The UFC is back in its home base of Las Vegas, Nevada, for UFC 320, headlined by two excellent title fights. Magomed Ankalaev defends his Undisputed Light Heavyweight Championship against Alex Pereira in the Main Event after beating him in March. Merab Dvalishvili puts his UFC Bantamweight title on the line against Cory Sandhagen in the co-main event of this card.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, both champions are big favorites as Ankalev is a -270 favorite against Pereira, while Dvalishvili is -440 vs. Sandhagen. Along with traditional sports betting and daily fantasy, you can now have more action than ever for UFC 320: Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2. Check out DraftKings UFC Pick6! Here are my favorite picks for Saturday’s UFC PPV.
Magomed Ankalaev Less Than 1.5 Takedowns
Ankalaev does have a slight advantage on the ground over Pereira, but it isn’t as big as you may think. In their first fight, Ankalaev attempted 12 takedowns but was unsuccessful in each one. Ankalaev only averages 0.80 takedowns per 15 minutes at a 22 percent rate. Additionally, the Champion hasn’t recorded a takedown in his previous three bouts, with his last performance with two takedowns coming in December 2022.
Pereira has an 82.6 percent takedown defensive rate at 205 pounds, which is the third highest in Light Heavyweight division history. In a second matchup between the two, it is unlikely that Ankalaev will be able to become more successful on the ground, as Pereira has more film on him.
Alex Pereira More Than 50.5 Fantasy Points
Before his last performance, where he scored 34.6 fantasy points, Alex Pereira totaled 97-plus points in four straight contests. Just because Pereira had one disappointing outing doesn’t mean he is finished as an elite striker and fighter. Pereira only attempted 159 total strikes, which is extremely low for him. In Pereira’s last two fights to enter the final two rounds, he has totaled 210-plus strikes.
When Pereira is moving forward with his aggressive nature, he still possesses the skills to be one of the best fighters in the world. Taking Pereira’s over in fantasy points at 50.5 fantasy points is an excellent play considering his upside in a second matchup against Ankalaev.
Merab Dvalishvili More Than 116.5 Fantasy Points
The Bantamweight Champion, “The Machine” Merab Dvalishvili, is on a legendary run, having won three title fights in the last 11 months. On this card, Dvalishvili’s total in fantasy points is the highest by over 20 points. That is a testament to his greatness and consistency over the last seven years. Dvalishvili has won 13 straight fights and hasn’t suffered a loss since 2018.
In Dvalishvili’s last three fights, he has recorded 120.3, 119.9, and 137.3 fantasy points. He is not only the best fantasy scorer on this card but also one of the most consistent champions in the UFC currently. Dvalishvili’s combination of striking and wrestling makes him such an unstoppable force. He averages over four more takedowns (5.84 vs. 1.28) per 15 minutes on the ground. Even though Dvalishvili only has a 35 percent takedown accuracy rate, it isn’t concerning since he is relentless with his takedown attacks and never gets flustered. Until Dvalishvili shows signs of showing down, backing him is essential anytime he is on a UFC card.
Jiri Prochazka More Than 0.5 Knockouts
Jiri Prochazka is 31-5-1 in his MMA career with 27 wins by KO/TKO. In the UFC, he is 5-2 with four knockouts. In Prochazka’s previous 13 wins, 12 of them have come via knockout as he is always looking for the finish when he enters the cage. In Prochazka’s last fight, he beat Jamahal Hill by knockout at UFC 311 in January.
Now he faces Khalil Rountree Jr., a fellow elite striker, but one who is not on Prochazka’s level. Prochazka averages nearly two more significant strikes per minute (5.74 vs. 3.79) while being the more accurate striker (55% vs. 40%). With Prochazka being the more efficient fighter while having the edge in height and reach, he has a great chance of adding another highlight knockout to his resume.
Youssef Zalal More Than 84.5 Fantasy Points
After starting his second stint in the UFC 4-0, Youssef Zalal faces another talented veteran at UFC 320 with Josh Emmett. Before beating Calvin Kattar via unanimous decision, Zalal won six consecutive fights by KO/TKO or submission. Although Emmett is skilled, Zalal is facing him at the right time, with him losing three of four contests.
Zalal has surpassed 84.5 fantasy points in three of his last four bouts. When Zalal is aggressive, he not only finds success but does so early in the contest. Each one of his previous six finishes has come in the first two rounds. Zalal must use his four-inch height advantage to his benefit by backing him down and trying to find a submission. If he follows that plan, Zalal should be able to wear down Emmett, leading to an elite fantasy performance.
Edmen Shahbazyan More Than 25.5 Significant Strikes
Edmen Shahbazyan is facing Andre Muniz in a three-round Middleweight bout on the Prelims. Shahbazyan has won two straight fights and three of his last four. He is attempting to increase his win streak to three for the first time since 2019. Since Shahbazyan is coming off a performance with 53 significant strikes, it is surprising to see his total as low as 25.5 against Muniz.
Shahbazyan has finished with at least 26 significant strikes in four of his previous five contests. Muniz excels on the ground, but with Shahbazyan’s 66 percent takedown defense, he should be able to neutralize that. If Shahbazyan is successful in making this a more striking battle, it should favor him. Shahbazyan averages 1.70 more significant strikes per minute than Muniz. Adding Shahbazyan’s over in significant strikes to your Pick6 pick set is an outstanding play at UFC 320, considering how he has looked during his winning streak.
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.
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