UFC 309 is finally here! After being postponed a year ago, the fight between UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones and former two-time champion Stipe Miocic is happening on Saturday. The co-main event features a UFC 262 Main Event rematch between former Lightweight Champion Charles “Do Bronxs” Oliveira and “Iron” Michael Chandler.

The Early Prelims will begin at 6:00 p.m. ET, with the Prelims starting at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Main Card will air live on ESPN+ PPV at 10:00 p.m. ET. Check out my favorite fighters to add to your daily fantasy lineup for Saturday’s UFC UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic.

Set your DraftKings fantasy MMA lineups here: UFC $700K UFC 309 Special [$200K to 1st]

Studs

Bo Nickal ($9,800)

Nickal is 6-0 in his young MMA career, with three victories in the UFC, all by way of finish. In this UFC DFS slate, Nickal is the highest-priced fighter, but it is for good reason. Nickal scored at least 100 fantasy points in all three UFC fights.

He is known as an incredible wrestler, winning three Division 1 National Championships, but his striking has improved with each fight. He knocked out Val Woodburn in his second fight in the UFC in July 2023. Nickal’s last performance was at UFC 300 in April, where he submitted Cody Brundage in the second round.

As Nickal continues to dominate and win fights, his opponents get more challenging. Paul Craig is a proven veteran with 26 MMA fights and has been in the UFC since 2016. Craig was a light heavyweight from 2016-2023. Since moving down a division to middleweight, he is 1-2 and most recently lost to Caio Borralho in May at UFC 301.

Craig has a two-inch height advantage (6’3″ vs. 6’1″), but each fighter has the same reach (76″). In his time in the UFC, Nickal is averaging 7.46 takedowns per 15 minutes. He has shown very little weakness but will be tested against Craig.

Nickal has a 62 percent significant striking accuracy, while Craigs is at 46 percent. Nickal always starts the fight aggressively and might have to be more patient with Craig. I don’t expect an early finish from Nickal, but he has a great chance to exploit Craig’s weaknesses, including his poor defense.

Oban Elliott ($8,800)

“The Welsh Gangster” Elliott is a fascinating prospect in the UFC. He debuted for the promotion at UFC 298 and is 2-0 in the UFC. He is 11-1 in his MMA career up until this point.

Elliott is facing Bassil Hafez in the second fight of the night on the Early Prelims. This is a great fight on paper. Elliott has charisma and superstar potential, but the performances need to follow. He has looked good but is still seeking his first UFC finish.

He is a well-rounded fighter and can hurt opponents on the feet or the ground. Both fighters have a 72″ reach, but Elliot is the taller athlete (6’0″ vs. 5’11”). Elliot is the more accurate striker, and if he can dictate the pace and get off to a quick start, a star-making performance is in store at Madison Square Garden.

Value Play

Stipe Miocic ($7,200)

Miocic is returning after more than 43 months away from the UFC Octagon. Francis Ngannou knocked out Miocic in his last appearance at UFC 260 in March 2021.

Miocic has been in the UFC since 2011 and is 14-4 in the promotion. He holds these records in the UFC heavyweight division: title wins (6), most title defenses (4), and fight night bonuses (9).

Miocic is highly viewed as the greatest UFC Heavyweight champion in history. If he can beat Jon Jones at UFC 309, he will join Randy Couture as the only two fighters to become three-time champions. This fight between Jones and Miocic was initially scheduled for UFC 295 in November 2023 but was canceled after Jones injured his pec.

Miocic is being disrespected too much in this fight. He is the +455 underdog on DraftKings Sportsbook. He is also the fourth cheapest fighter on the card in DFS contests.

Yes, he hasn’t been active, but Jones hasn’t been either. Jones has one fight in the last four and a half years, while Miocic has competed twice in that span. Jones had the most recent fight between the two when he became the heavyweight champion at UFC 285.

Miocic has scored at least 100 fantasy points in three of his previous five fights. Even at 42 years old, he is still a threat to Jones. He lands more significant strikes than Jones (4.82 vs. 4.29). Jones and Miocic’s striking accuracy and defense are very similar. Jones has the clear edge on the ground.

If Miocic can successfully defend takedowns early in the fight and make it a war on the feet, he has an excellent chance to provide great value at only $7,200.

Set your DraftKings fantasy MMA lineups here: UFC $700K UFC 309 Special [$200K to 1st]

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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is ryanwohl) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.