The UFC on ESPN era officially comes to a close on Saturday night with one final Fight Night at the Apex, headlined by a flyweight bout between No. 2 Brandon Royval and No. 6 Manel Kape.
Kape enters as a -278 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, with Royval listed as a +225 underdog.
Along with traditional sports betting and daily fantasy, you can now have more action than ever for UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Kape. Check out DraftKings UFC Pick6 for my favorite picks for Saturday’s UFC event.
Brandon Royval More Than 84.5 Significant Strikes
Brandon Royval (17–8) tends to treat opponents’ heads like speed bags. The southpaw flyweight averages 5.55 significant strikes per minute and has topped the 110 mark in each of his last four fights. That stretch was punctuated by his instant classic with Joshua Van in June, where he landed 215 significant shots in just three rounds.
Now, he finds himself in a 25-minute main event against Manel Kape (21–7), who isn’t much of a takedown threat himself. Despite being a heavy underdog, Royval has proven that he can pile up significant strikes even in defeat, and he should land at least 85 on Saturday night.
Kevin Vallejos More Than 91.5 Fantasy Points
The featherweight co-main event between Kevin Vallejos (16–1) and Giga Chikadze (15–5) is a classic matchup between a surging prospect and a declining veteran — a timeless tale that tends to favor the former. Vallejos, 24, is a much sharper boxer than the 37-year-old Chikadze, and he should overwhelm his opponent with his suffocating pressure — landing over six significant strikes per minute — to pile up fantasy points on his way to a sixth consecutive victory.
Kennedy Nzechukwu More Than 32.5 Significant Strikes
Heavyweight contender Marcus Buchecha (5–2) is a seasoned jiu-jitsu specialist, looking to take the fight to the ground as soon as possible. That’s easier said than done against Kennedy Nzechukwu (14–6), who boasts an impressive 80% takedown defense. Nzechukwu should be able to keep the fight standing, where he can employ his clear striking advantage and pile up significant strikes on an opponent who has yet to be finished in his professional career.
Joanderson Brito More Than 1.5 Takedowns
Veteran featherweight Joanderson Brito (17–5–1) attempts to rebound from a pair of momentum-stalling decision losses when he takes on 23-year-old Isaac Thomson (9–2), who’s making his UFC debut on four days’ notice.
Thomson has the necessary tools to make a statement in his promotional premiere, but a few early takedowns from Brito feel inevitable. Nicknamed “Tubarao,” which is Portuguese for “Shark,” Brito is a formidable power-grappler who thrives in chaos and is willing to walk through punches to close the distance and initiate grappling exchanges. Across his three-year UFC career, Brito owns a 2.49 takedown average at 68% accuracy.
Gillian Robertson More Than 5:30 Control Time
Amanda Lemos (15–5–1) maintains a puncher’s chance if she can keep the fight standing, but that seems increasingly unlikely against a jiu-jitsu master in Gillian Robertson (16–8), who has only gotten better since moving down to strawweight.
Lemos’ 64% takedown defense spells trouble, as Robertson constantly shoots and averages 2.74 takedowns per 15 minutes with 40% accuracy. Even if Robertson gets taken down herself, her expertise in scrambling and reversing positions gives her a clear edge on the ground at all times.
She has amassed at least 5:30 of control time in three of her last four fights, falling just below the threshold at 5:21 in her latest outing against Mariana Rodriguez — which ended in a second-round TKO.
Yaroslav Amosov More Than 105.5 Fantasy Points
Former Bellator welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov (28–1) enters as a heavy -440 favorite for his UFC debut against veteran Neil Magny (31–14). The 32-year-old Ukrainian boasts 20 stoppage victories, including 11 submissions and nine knockouts.
He took an extended break after suffering his first professional loss against Jason Jackson in November 2023, but made a dramatic return with a first-round submission against Curtis Millender in March. Against the 38-year-old Magny — whose recent back-to-back wins were preceded by consecutive first-round, knockout losses — Amosov should make another statement in his first trip to the Octagon.
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!
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