Robert Whittaker is headlining UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday against rising star Reinier de Ridder. This UFC Fight Night is taking place in Abu Dhabi at the Etihad Arena. This event airs live on ABC at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Along with traditional sports betting and daily fantasy, you can now have more action than ever for UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. De Ridder. Check out DraftKings UFC Pick6! Here are my favorite picks for Saturday’s UFC card.
Reinier de Ridder More Than 68.5 Fantasy Points
Reinier de Ridder has been a phenomenal fantasy performer since entering the UFC. He has scored 110.3, 113.8, and 106.5 points in his previous three contests. He is going from facing a prospect in Bo Nickal to a former champion in Robert Whittaker.
The good news for RDR is that his skillset matches up perfectly with Whittaker. He stands four inches taller with a five-inch larger standing reach. De Ridder’s unorthodox skillset on the feet, featuring unique knees and strikes, makes it hard for opponents to match. Getting de Ridder to record more than 66.5 fantasy points is a great play, especially since this is a five-round contest.
Shara Magomedov More Than 64.5 Significant Strikes
Shara “Bullet” is not just a good striker but an excellent one. He lands significant strikes at an incredible 62.4 percent rate, which is the second highest among active fighters and the fourth best in UFC history. He is coming off a fight where he totaled 38 significant strikes but recorded more than 64.5 in the previous four contests.
After losing to Michael “Venom” Page, Magomedov is back to face Marc-Andre Barriault, who defeated Bruno Silva via KO/TKO in his last bout. Although Barriault is a tough veteran, Magomedov’s striking skillset is on a different level. If he pushes the pace and stays aggressive, a victory along with 65-plus significant strikes is likely.
Asu Almabayev More Than 63.5 Fantasy Points
Almabayev suffered a loss to Manel Kape but won 17 of his previous 18 contests and is in a great position to bounce back against a young prospect, Jose Ochoa. In four of Almabayev’s last five fights, he has surpassed 63.5 fantasy points with three performances of 104-plus points.
One aspect that makes Almabayev difficult to beat is his versatile skill set. He averages 2.32 significant strikes at a 54 percent rate while landing 4.13 takedowns per 15 minutes. If he can be more aggressive than he was against Kape while using all parts of his arsenal, hitting 64 fantasy points should be doable.
Bryce Mitchell Less Than 2.5 Takedowns
After losing three of five fights at Featherweight, Bryce Mitchell has officially made the move to 135 pounds. Mitchell will take on Said Nurmagomedov in his first fight in the Bantamweight division. This is a very close matchup on paper, with Mitchell standing two inches taller (5’10” vs. 5’8″), with both fighters having the same standing reach (70″).
Mitchell’s offense on the ground is better, averaging 3.27 takedowns, but only lands them at a 36 percent rate. That, combined with Nurmagomedov’s 62 percent takedown defense, doesn’t add up to a good recipe for success for Mitchell. Even though he has faced tough competition recently, Mitchell has failed to total three takedowns in four of his last five contests. With Nurmagomedov having great defensive ability on the ground, it could force the two to face off more often on the feet.
Davey Grant More Than 69.5 Significant Strikes
At 39 years old, the 12-year UFC veteran has won three of his last four bouts. He now faces Da’Mon Blackshear, who has won three straight fights. In this fight, Grant lands more significant strikes per minute while having a 55 percent defensive rate.
Grant needs to be the aggressor, and if he is, he should be able to neutralize Blackshear’s physical advantages. In his previous fight, Grant delivered an impressive striking performance, landing 147 significant strikes. He also has reached this striking mark in four of five contests.
Martin Buday More Than 36.5 Significant Strikes
Buday has been on a good run at 205 pounds, winning four of his previous five contests. He is fighting UFC debutant Marcus Buchecha, who is 5-1 in his career. In the UFC, Buday has proved to be a good striker. Buday averages 4.67 significant strikes per minute at a 53 percent rate.
With Buday having more than 36.5 significant strikes in four of his last five fights, it was surprising to see his total so low in this contest. Buchecha is an elite finisher on the ground, but with Buday’s 100 percent takedown defense, that shouldn’t be a factor in this bout.
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, 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.
