For the first time, the UFC is in Baku, Azerbaijan, and it features two exciting matchups at the top of the card. Former champion No. 4 Jamahal Hill vs. No. 7 Khalil Rountree Jr. is the Main Event, with No. 11 Rafael Fiziev vs. Ignacio Bahamondes in the Co-Main Event.
Along with traditional sports betting and daily fantasy, you can now have more action than ever for UFC Fight Night: Hill vs. Rountree Jr. Check out DraftKings UFC Pick6! Here are my five favorite picks for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night.
Khalil Rountree Jr. More Than 66.5 Fantasy Points
Even though Rountree only recorded 24.6 fantasy points in his previous fight against Alex Pereira, he hit this mark in three of his last four fights. Rountree landed 61 of 191 significant strikes against the former champion and led on the judges’ scorecards before Pereira got the knockout.
Rountree faces another former champion on Saturday. Although Jamahal Hill is also a phenomenal striker, he doesn’t have the same power as Pereira. Rountree must put out a higher output than Hill on the feet, as he is the smaller fighter in this matchup. If Rountree brings his usual ferocious style, he has all the tools to hurt Hill and total more than 66.5 fantasy points.
Ignacio Bahamondes More Than 70.5 Fantasy Points
Seeing Bahamondes’ total for fantasy points set at 70.5 was surprising, considering his recent stretch. Yes, Bahamondes is facing the best opponent of his career, but he has proved he is ready for the challenge. Bahamondes has totaled 95.4. 124.5 and 116.4 points in his previous three bouts.
If Bahamondes can keep Fiziev at range, he should find a lot of success against him. With a four-inch edge in reach (75″ vs. 71″) while being taller by six inches (6’3″ vs. 5’8″), Bahamondes presents a matchup nightmare for Fizev.
At 6’3″, Bahamondes is tied with Jalin Turner, whom he recently beat, as the tallest fighter in the lightweight division. Bahamondes has a 57 percent defensive striking rate, which will be needed against a powerful opponent.
Curtis Blaydes More Than 76.5 Fantasy Points
Blaydes has had a weird few years recently. He is 3-2 in his previous five bouts, and has struggled when facing a fellow top-five heavyweight. He only scored two fantasy points against Tom Aspinall and 5.6 vs. Sergei Pavlovich. But in three of his last five, he has still recorded more than 76.5 points.
At 34 years old, Blaydes still has time left in his career to make another run at a title shot. But first, he must get past UFC debutant Rizvan Kuniev, who hasn’t suffered a defeat since August 2015.
Blaydes has a 53 percent takedown accuracy and usually finds success when he implements an aggressive attack. With Blaydes’ reach advantage, he should be able to fight this bout at his pace, giving him a good chance at a big bounce-back performance.
Myktybek Orolbai More Than 1.5 Takedowns
Orolbai is 2-1 in the UFC and is coming off a loss to Mateusz Rebecki. Now he will face Tofiq Musayev, who is making his UFC debut. Orolbai has had two-plus takedowns in his first three fights in the UFC.
Even though Orolbai is 43 percent accurate in taking down opponents, he averages 5.36 of them per 15 minutes. Orolbai possesses a five-inch reach advantage (74″ vs. 69″) against Musayev, which should allow him to take the fight to the mat.
Oban Elliott More Than 59.5 Significant Strikes
The Welsh Gangster, Oban Elliott, returns to the Octagon against Oban Elliott on Saturday. Elliott is one of the most charismatic rising stars in the UFC. In his last fight at UFC 309, Elliott knocked out Basil Hafez in the third round and finished with 65 significant strikes.
Elliot has surpassed this total in significant strikes in two of his three fights in the UFC. He is fighting Seokhyeon Ko at UFC Baku in a three-round welterweight contest. Ko is coming off a victory on Dana White’s Contender Series.
This is a good matchup for Elliott to display his elite striking ability. He averages 4.26 significant strikes per minute at a 49 percent rate and has an excellent 62 percent defensive striking rate.
If Elliott uses his versatile striking arsenal from the start of the bout, he should be able to break Ko down throughout the fight. Elliott has continued to improve each time he has fought in the UFC, and totaling 50 significant strikes should be very doable for the Welsh Gangster.
Mohammed Usman More Than 47.5 Significant Strikes
Mohammed Usman, the brother of former welterweight champion Kamaru, is facing Hamdy Abdelwahab in the prelims. Despite his two-fight losing streak, Usman has finished with more than 47.5 significant strikes in three straight fights.
Usman has a seven-inch reach advantage and needs to use that to hurt Abdelwahab on the feet. Usman has shown he can be an effective striker when he has a high output. If he can put together multiple combinations early in this contest, recording more than 47.5 significant strikes should be in his future.
What is DraftKings Pick6?
Pick6 is a peer-to-peer fantasy variant where you build a lineup (your “Pick Set”) of 2+ players and select whether or not you believe each will outperform their listed stat projection. Enter your Pick Set in Pick6 contests to compete against other users. Get enough picks correct and win a share of cash prizes.
How to Play DraftKings Pick6
Create a Pick Set
Create a Pick Set by choosing 2+ players from the same sport and Pick Group (a set of picks available from a group of set competitions). For each player, simply select if you think they’ll have more or less than their listed stat projection. In each Pick Set, you can not pick the same player twice,e and you must pick players from at least two different teams.
Enter an Amount
Once you finalize your Pick Set, choose your entry fee amount. Your entries will be automatically distributed into available contests, subject to your confirmation.
Sweat Your Picks
When the games go live, use the My Picks tab to follow your picks in real time to track how your players are performing against their projections and how they stack up against other users.
Compete for Prizes
Make enough correct picks and win a share of the contests’ guaranteed prizes. Any prizes won will be credited to your DraftKings account after contests are finalized.
Play at DraftKings Pick6 or by downloading the DraftKings Pick6 app on Apple or Google!
Apple DraftKings Pick6 App
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Must be at least 18 years or older. Higher age limits may apply in some states. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid only in states where DraftKings Pick6 operates. Void where prohibited. For entertainment purposes only. Winning a contest on DraftKings depends on knowledge and exercise of skill. See terms at pick6.draftkings.com.
