DraftKings MMA DFS Picks for UFC Las Vegas

Welcome to the Quick Picks version of UFC Las Vegas!

The UFC is back at the Apex Center in Las Vegas, which means a small Octagon and many high-paced fights!

Premium subscribers will get access to full fight breakdowns of all 10 fights on the DraftKings slate, more than 10,000 words breaking down each fighter, paths to victory, and strategy for those attempting to win the big prizes. Subscribers also get access to a video and audio podcast with some of the top experts in the industry, as well as fighter rankings.

Additionally, subscribers get access to DraftKings projections and ownership, lineup optimizers, and a private Discord chat!

gradient
  • Build DFS Lineups Like a Pro!
  • Access to Content and LineupHQ
  • MMA, KBO, Soccer and PGA

DraftKings MMA DFS Picks for UFC Las Vegas

Edmen Shahbazyan, 9.1k

The Main Event this weekend is a rare three-round fight between Edmen Shahbazyan and Derek Brunson, and the young prospect Shahbazyan is among the top overall plays on the DraftKings MMA slate at 9.1k.

Shahbazyan is -330 to win and -200 to win ITD which is an extremely strong number, and our projections indicate he has the best chance to top 100 points in a victory.

There are only 10 fights on the card so ownerships will be high across the board, but Shahbazyan has clear potential to win with an early knockout, and if that occurs, he’ll almost certainly end up on the optimal lineup. Thankfully there are many value plays on the card so it will be relatively easy to pay up for Shahbazyan, and we recommend you consider him as part of your core.

Vincente Luque, 8.8k

One of the higher upside fighters in the mid-range this week is Vincente Luque, who is priced at 8.8k and fighting a solid prospect in Randy Brown.

Luque is -195 to win and has a strong ITD line of +105, but most importantly, he has proven capable of scoring very well even in decisions.

Luque has put up 120, 72, 109, 145, 121, 107, 111, and 105 points in each of his victories on DraftKings, nearly all of which would put him on the optimal lineup at 8.8k. Based on his metrics and historical scoring, as well as our projections, Luque is one of the top overall plays on the DraftKings MMA slate.

Jamall Emmers, 7.8k

We had previously mentioned that there are a number of strong value plays on this DraftKings MMA slate, and the top one is clearly Jamall Emmers at 7.8k.

Emmers was originally scheduled to fight Timur Valiev and was a moderate underdog, which is why DraftKings priced him at 7.8k. Valiev was forced to pull out, and Emmers was able to re-schedule his fight and will now take on Vince Cachero on Saturday.

Cachero isn’t bad, but Emmers is now a -270 favorite with an ITD line of +130, which is one of the best numbers on the slate. Theoretically, Emmers would have been priced closer to 9k if this fight had been made earlier in the week.

At 7.8k, Emmers has the best chance to win and score well in his price range, and he should be considered a very strong play in both cash games and tournaments.

Chris Gutierrez, 9.2k

With only 10 fights on the slate, it’s very difficult to rule out any one fighter, but of all the fighters in the top range on this DraftKings MMA slate, my least favorite is Chris Gutierrez.

He’s a heavy favorite at -345, but Gutierrez’ ITD line is only +220, which doesn’t compare to the other options in the top tier of pricing.

Based on our projections, Gutierrez isn’t likely to throw strikes or wrestle at a high pace either, which means he’s dependent on that knockout. Of course it could come, but there are several superior options to Gutierrez at his price point, and therefore he should not be a priority on this slate.

DraftKings MMA DFS Picks for UFC Las Vegas

For more MMA picks and tips for DraftKings UFC Las Vegas remember to sign up for RotoGrinders Premium by clicking on the link below. You don’t want to miss out on in-depth fighter breakdowns, optimal GPP strategy discussions, fighter rankings, and our premium video and audio podcasts with expert MMA picks, all available exclusively to RG Premium subscribers.

gradient
  • Build DFS Lineups Like a Pro!
  • Access to Content and LineupHQ
  • MMA, KBO, Soccer and PGA

Image Credit: Imagn

About the Author

bbbomb
Brett Appley (bbbomb)

One of the top MMA minds in the DFS industry, Brett Appley a.k.a bbbomb has been writing his weekly “Beat Down” article for RotoGrinders since the sport launched on DraftKings in 2015. Brett has earned multiple Top 10 rankings in MMA since that time and has taken down a handful of tournaments as well.