In two days, UFC 330 is taking place in Philadelphia, marking the promotion’s first numbered event in the city since 2011. An Undisputed UFC Welterweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry headlines this event. The co-main event features a Women’s Strawweight championship bout as Mackenzie Dern defends against Gillian Robertson.
Set your DraftKings fantasy MMA lineups here: UFC $600K UFC 330 Special [$200K to 1st].
Check out my favorite fighters to add to your daily fantasy lineup for Saturday’s UFC 330 event.
Studs
Mansur Abdul-Malik ($9,500)
In this fight, Abdul-Malik has a five-inch reach advantage (80″ vs. 75″) and is slightly taller (6’2″ vs. 6’0″). On the feet, it is close from a statistics perspective as Stoltzfus edges out Abdul-Malik in significant strikes per minute (3.30 vs. 3.28), striking accuracy (45% vs. 44%), and defense (47% vs. 46%). Abdul-Malik has a better takedown accuracy (41% vs. 37%) and defense (83% vs. 46%).
Although Abdul-Malik trails Stoltzfus in the striking stats, he has the power advantage and is a better athlete. Abdul-Malik’s last opponent, Belgaroui, was a fellow knockout artist and matched his output and pace. But it is unlikely that Stoltzfus will be able to do the same. If Abdul-Malik is aggressive, he should be able to overwhelm Stoltzfus with his tremendous power and finishing ability. Abdul-Malik has scored at least 88 fantasy points in three of his four UFC wins, with two of them being 97-plus.
Neil Magny ($8,000)
In the second fight at UFC 330, Neil Magny is taking on Ramiz Brahimaj in a three-round Welterweight contest. Magny is coming off a first-round submission loss to Yaroslav Amosov. Before that, Magny won back-to-back fights by finish. Brahimaj, 33, has a 13-6 record with 13 finishes but recently saw his winning streak end to Punahele Soriano.
Magny has a massive eight-inch reach advantage (80″ vs. 72″) while being five inches taller (6’3″ vs. 5’10”). Although Magny is six years older, he still has the better all-around skill set. Magny averages more significant strikes per minute (3.40 vs. 2.29) and more takedowns per 15 minutes (2.17 vs. 1.99) than Brahimaj. Brahimaj has a better striking accuracy, but Magny is better defensively on the feet (51% vs. 47%).
In Magny’s previous two victories, he recorded 85.8 and 106.8 fantasy points. Magny has struggled against elite competition but still has proven he can compete with the rest of the Welterweight division. With such a big reach advantage, Magny should be able to be the aggressor in this fight while displaying his elite defense, making another successful performance likely.
Value Play
Ian Machado Garry ($7,000)
Machado Garry is 10-1 in the UFC and is coming off victories against former champion Belal Muhammad and Carlos Prates. He has a tough test in front of him with two-division UFC champion Islam Makhachev. Makhachev is currently on a 16-fight winning streak, with his lone defeat coming at UFC 192 in his second UFC fight.
On paper, Machado Garry has a bunch of things working in his favor. Machado Garry has a four-inch height advantage (6’3″ vs. 5’10”) and a four-inch reach advantage (74″ vs. 70″) against Makhachev. Also, on the feet, Machado Garry has the edge, as he averages 2.33 more significant strikes per minute (4.78 vs. 2.45) than the champion. Makhachev is more accurate (58% vs. 54%) and better on the feet defensively, absorbing 1.41 fewer significant strikes per minute. The ground is where Makhachev thrives and does his best work, laying 3.10 takedowns per 15 minutes at a 56 percent rate. But Garry has improved on the ground and has an 80 percent takedown defensive rate, which will need to be used often in this contest.
Makhachev is very persistent in his takedown attempts and doesn’t stop until he gets his opponent on the ground. But the champion could struggle to control Machado Garry and hold him down, as he is his biggest opponent yet. Machado Garry successfully defended eight of 10 takedowns against Shavkat Rakhmonov and will need to have a similar performance in that area to find success. Early on in this contest, Machado Garry needs to keep Makhachev at range and not allow him to get close very often. If he can use his physical advantages to his benefit, Machado Garry has the tools to break Makhachev down. Getting Machado Garry at $7,000 is an excellent value play, given his talent and current streak.
Set your DraftKings fantasy MMA lineups here: UFC $600K UFC 330 Special [$200K to 1st].
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