MMA DFS and Betting Breakdown: UFC 332 - Silva vs. Wang
Liam Heslin (aka LiamPicksFights) is a massive combat sports fan with over a decade of experience competing in wrestling and grappling martial arts. For each UFC event, he produces the MMA DFS and sports betting breakdown for RotoGrinders. Read below for his in-depth analysis on UFC 332 – Silva vs. Wang.
The UFC is headed back to Salt Lake City for their contractually obligated numbered event at the Delta Center. Valentina Shevchenko was forced to vacate her flyweight title to ensure a UFC Title would be on the line this weekend. Now the number one contender Natalia Silva (8-0 UFC) will look to earn the vacant flyweight title opposite China’s “Joker,” Cong Wang (5-1 UFC). While the main event is a bit lackluster for casual fans, there are a number of exciting prospects, well-matched fights, and even some local flair as native Utah man Court McGee looks to do Orem proud in the first preliminary bout of the evening.
Editor’s Note: Analysis of remaining fights is coming soon!
Note: All DFS salaries listed are from DraftKings & all odds quoted are from FanDuel Sportsbook.
UFC 332 – Silva vs. Wang: MMA DFS Picks & Betting Breakdown
Eric Nolan ($9,000) vs. Court McGee ($7,200)
Fight Odds: -265 Nolan vs. +200 McGee
Weight Class: 170lb. (Welterweight)
Eric Nolan (0-2 UFC) has been off to a very tough start to his UFC career, but I can give him grace losing to surging prospect Baisangur Susurkaev (3-0 UFC) and the dominant Azerbaijani wrestler Farman Hasanov (1-0 UFC) on foreign soil. Nolan is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he packs a serious punch on the feet, and he grew up wrestling in the respected state of New Jersey. The Dante Rivera BJJ product has conceded 19 takedowns through his first two UFC fights, but he still managed to produce a 44% takedown defense rate. Clearly his takedown defense is poor, but his ability to get back up to his feet and keep hustling was admirable. Nolan’s back could be up against the wall in terms of future employment if he is unable to defeat his 41-year-old adversary.
Court McGee (11-13 UFC) is set to retire in front of his home state – win or lose – on Saturday night. “The Crusher” won the Ultimate Fighter Season 11 back in 2010, and he has been competing in the UFC for the 16 years since. The standout win on McGee’s ledger was a split decision back in 2013 against a young Robert Whittaker (18-7 UFC), a man who would go on to win the UFC Middleweight Title. McGee’s path to victory in this matchup is wrestling his opponent, grinding for control, and if possible, looking to secure a rear naked choke victory. McGee has only finished one UFC fight since 2010, and it was a 1st-round submission against the pencil-necked striker Tim Means (15-14 UFC). If you zoom out on McGee’s recent results, the signs of decline are more than evident. McGee has lost 4 of his last 5 fights and 7 of his last 10 fights. Most of his opponents have been post-prime fighters (i.e. 42-year-old Matt Brown, who knocked him out cold in the 1st round).
McGee has a plausible path to victory in this fight pursuing wrestling and grappling, but it is hard to trust his physicality or durability to hold up in this contest as he is 41 and retiring after the fight. I think Susurkaev and Hasanov would both finish McGee, so I can’t really hold those losses against Nolan in the context of this matchup. I rate Nolan as the more damaging fighter, the more likely fighter to improve on a fight-to-fight basis, and the fighter I expect to be more desperate for victory given his recent results. I expect the minutes to be competitive, but Nolan’s edge in youth, power, and durability makes me lean towards him getting his first UFC win against his most beatable opponent to date. If Nolan can’t win this fight, it would probably put a nail in the coffin on his UFC career.
Prediction: Eric Nolan defeats Court McGee via Stoppage (or McGee via RNC/SDEC)
Ismail Naurdiev ($8,300) vs. Marvin Vettori ($7,900)
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About the Author
Liam (aka LiamPicksFights) is a massive combat sports fan with over a decade of experience competing in wrestling and grappling martial arts. Each week, he produces original content about the world of mixed martial arts from a betting perspective alongside an ever-changing panel of guest handicappers. When he’s not handicapping fights or producing content, he’s training jiu-jitsu, coaching youth wrestling, or daydreaming about doing one of the former. Follow Liam on Twitter – @LiamPicksFights