UFC Picks: Top DraftKings DFS Fantasy MMA Targets, Values for Rosas Jr. vs. Barcelos

After a memorable UFC 331 event in Los Angeles, the promotion returns to their home base of the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, for its next UFC Fight Night. This week’s event is headlined by a five-round Bantamweight contest between No. 12 Raul Rosas Jr. vs. No. 13 Raoni Barcelos. Saturday’s UFC Fight Night begins with the Prelims at 5:00 p.m. ET and continues with the Main Card at 8:00 p.m. ET on Paramount+.

Set your DraftKings fantasy MMA lineups here: UFC $250K Throwdown [$50K to 1st].

Check out my favorite fighters to add to your daily fantasy lineup for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night.

Studs

Rinya Nakamura ($9,300)

Rinya Nakamura is 10-1 with seven finishes, and he started his UFC career 4-1 with two knockouts. After a 13-month hiatus, Nakamura is back after scoring a first-round knockout over Nathan Fletcher in August 2025. Nakamura is facing Brady Hiestand, who has won three straight fights at this week’s UFC Fight Night. 

Hiestand is slightly taller (5’8″ vs. 5’7″) and has a three-inch reach advantage (71″ vs. 68″). Nakamura is better on the feet, with the edge in significant strikes per minute (3.27 vs. 2.70), striking accuracy (52% vs. 50%), and defense (63% vs. 51%). Hiestand lands more takedowns (4.80 vs. 2.58), but Nakamura has the better takedown accuracy (81% vs. 46%) and defense (100% vs. 42%). 

Nakamura is coming off an elite fantasy performance as he scored 104.9 fantasy points. He has recorded at least 85 fantasy points in four of his five UFC fights, with three of them at 90-plus. If Nakamura shows his elite takedown defense, he should be able to get the best of Hiestand on the feet with his combination of athleticism and power. 

Montel Jackson ($8,800)

From March 2021 to May 2025, Montel Jackson won six straight fights. But now, Jackson finds himself on a two-fight losing streak and searching for his first victory in 16 months. Jackson will take on eight-year UFC veteran Ricky Simon, who has had a draw and loss in his previous two contests.

In this contest, Jackson has a big physical advantage as he stands four inches taller (5’10” vs. 5’6″) with a six-inch reach advantage (75″ vs. 69). Simon has a slight edge in significant strikes per minute (3.03 vs. 3.02). Still, Jackson is more accurate (52% vs. 42%) and absorbs 2.50 fewer significant strikes per minute. 

Although Jackson is coming off two losses, they both were by split decision as the fights were close. Jackson must use his 67 percent takedown rate in this fight, as Simon will likely try to take it to the ground. If Jackson can use all areas of his arsenal while being more aggressive than in his recent fights, a positive performance is doable. Jackson has scored 106-plus fantasy points in four of his previous six wins. 

Value Play

Raoni Barcelos ($7,500)

In the Main Event of this week’s UFC Fight Night, two top-15 bantamweights, Raul Rosas Jr. and Raoni Barcelos, will face off. Although Barcelos is 39, he is on an excellent run, having won five straight fights, including key victories over Payton Talbott, Cody Garbrandt, Ricky Simon, and Montel Jackson. Rosas Jr. is also riding a five-fight winning streak and most recently beat Rob Font at UFC 326 in March. 

Both fighters have an identical standing reach (67″) while Rosas is taller by two inches (5’9″ vs. 5’7″). Rosas’ best skill is on the ground, where he lands over six takedowns per 15 minutes at a 54 percent rate. Even though Barcelos isn’t as good offensively on the ground, he has an 87 percent takedown defense. On the feet, Barcelos has a clear advantage, averaging 3.31 more significant strikes per minute while being nine percent more accurate. 

Barcelos is coming off an 84.8-point performance against Jackson and has reached that mark in two of his last four contests. With Barcelos’ striking advantage, he should be able to find success against Rosas if he is the aggressor and keeps the fight on the feet as much as possible. Rosas is talented, especially for his age, but as we’ve seen in the past, he’s often too passive. 

Set your DraftKings fantasy MMA lineups here: UFC $250K Throwdown [$50K to 1st].