MMA DFS and Betting Breakdown: UFC Fight Night - Du Plessis vs. Usman

by Liam Heslin (LiamPicksFights) Last Updated 2026-07-17 01:32:32 Premium Content Part of the product MMA Premium

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 Fight Night – Du Plessis vs. Usman.

UFC 329 was shaping up to be one of the greatest fight cards in MMA before the main event soiled the night and left fans with a sour taste in their mouths. The combat sports leader is back to business as usual with a special main event offering, followed by a card that would affectionately be described as DWCS+. Most of the fighters on this card competed on DWCS or they are debutants on the level of many DWCS competitors. The fights should largely be fun and action packed, but don’t expect a ton of star power outside the main event. Speaking of debutants, we begin with a genuine prospect showdown featuring undefeated fighters and standout grapplers with a lot to prove.

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 Fight Night – Du Plessis vs. Usman: MMA DFS Picks & Betting Breakdown

Damien Anderson (Salary TBD) vs. Ezra Elliott (Salary TBD)

Fight Odds: -162 Anderson vs. +126 Elliott
Weight Class: 145lb. (Featherweight)

Damien “Demon Hands” Anderson (UFC Debut) is a Texas-based grappling ace who has put together an undefeated campaign with a 100% finishing rate through 5 professional fights. He has had competitive matches with some of the best BJJ practitioners in the world, and he trains with world class competitors like Nick Rodriguez and the Crelinsten brothers. In MMA, he has demonstrated practical applications of the modern leg locking meta that many fighters will struggle to deal with. His striking could use more range finders, particularly a more active jab, but he mixes up levels nicely and targets the body with kicks. Anderson’s best win is a leg lock submission against Gabriel Wanderley (7-2 Pro; 6-1 to the SUB prop). He accepted this fight at 145lbs after a couple of fights at 135lbs, but he has fought at this weight 3 times professionally, and he made his amateur debut at 155lbs.

After winning the Illinois high school state wrestling championship at 138lbs, Ezra Elliott (UFC Debut) took his talents to Arizona to cross-train with the MMA Lab and Tim Welch’s Red Hawk Academy. The 26-year-old fighter sports an impressive 11-fight pro-am win streak dating back to his amateur debut in August of 2022. Since turning pro in April of 2024, he has rattled off 7 consecutive finishes, all in the very first round. Watching the footage, I like his aggressive ground and pound and his ability to dictate where fights take place, but I worry about some of the scrambles he has allowed against lower-level opponents. Elliott’s wrestling prowess and athleticism has bailed him out in some of his scrambles and allowed him to continue flowing or reestablish position, but I worry that one lapse in judgment on the mat (where he typically forces fights to take place) could cost him the fight against a submission grappler of this caliber. Elliott has fought a very poor quality of competition and built up his record and experience, but I think this is the most difficult matchup of his young career.

Elliott looks to be a bit bigger than his opponent, but I would be surprised if he was able to easily dominate him on the mat as he has been able to do with previous opponents. I give Anderson most of the submission equity in this fight, which would eliminate a lot of Elliott’s historical win equity. Neither of these fighters have proven that they can fight in extended bouts in which they face adversity, but Anderson seems to be the more patient fighter who fights at a more sustainable pace over 15 minutes. Either man could get cracked on the feet, but I see them having grappling exchanges. I feel like I have to do some guess work in the matchup, but I prefer Anderson’s level of lethality in the grappling, particularly in the leg-locking exchanges. That could be an equalizer against a wrestling-based opponent.

Prediction: Damien Anderson defeats Ezra Elliott via SUB (Leg Lock)

Dione Barbosa ($9,400) vs. Anna Melisano ($6,800)

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