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DraftKings MMA, UFC DFS Lineup Picks - UFC Perth: Ulberg vs. Reyes on 9/27/25. Alen's MMA DFS analysis to build winning daily fantasy UFC lineups.
This weekend, UFC returns to RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, for UFC Perth. This will be the UFC's 20th visit to Australia, and Perth will host a UFC event for the fourth time. UFC Perth will be headlined by rising contender Carlos Ulberg and former light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes, and this fight should determine the next title challenger.
The co-main event is set to feature Australia's own Jimmy Crute and Croatia's best light heavyweight Ivan Erslan, who is searching for his first UFC win. To open up the UFC Perth main card, we have Tom Nolan taking on Charlie Campbell, followed by a heavyweight bout between Justin Tafa and Louie Sutherland. After heavyweights finish their bout, surging Jake Matthews faces off against UFC veteran Neil Magny. Also on the main card, we have a featherweight bout between Jack Jenkins and Ramon Taveras.
In this article, I will be providing you with my fantasy MMA lineup picks for UFC Perth: Ulberg vs. Reyes on 9/27/25. Give me a follow on X @sumpor5. Good luck!
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DraftKings MMA Light Heavyweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Carlos Ulberg, $9.3K - vs. Dominick Reyes
Rising light heavyweight contender Ulberg and former title challenger Reyes are scheduled for a five-round main event at UFC Perth on Saturday. Both Ulberg and Reyes are looking to extend their win streak and possibly earn a title shot.
Check both ways before entering the pocket ⚠️@UlbergCarlos is ready for five rounds or less this weekend!
[ #UFCPerth 10pmET on the @ESPN app | TICKETS 🎟️ https://t.co/jqV4uVWN6W ] pic.twitter.com/1IIO2qvbRk
— UFC (@ufc) September 26, 2025
Ulberg joined the promotion in 2020 after knocking out Bruno Oliveira on Dana White's Contender Series, but he had a setback in his UFC debut. He made his UFC debut back in 2021 at UFC 259 against Kennedy Nzechukwu, but the fight didn't go his way as he suffered a second-round knockout loss.
That was his first and only loss, and it seems like he switched things up a bit, as he is currently on an eight-fight winning streak. Not only that, but it should also be stated that Ulberg is currently riding the longest active winning streak in the entire division.
He was last seen in action in March at UFC London, where he defeated the former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz by a unanimous decision.
Widely regarded as the man who potentially defeated Jon Jones, Reyes found himself losing his next three fights. Not only did he lose, but he got knocked out in all those fights. After losing to Jones, Reyes suffered a TKO loss to Blachowicz, a knockout loss to Jiri Prochazka, and a knockout loss to Ryan Spann, but now it looks like Reyes got back by winning three fights in a row.
He got back in the win column by knocking out Dustin Jacoby, and in his next fight, he managed to finish former title challenger Anthony Smith via second-round TKO. The last time he fought was in April at UFC 314, where he finished Nikita Krylov by first-round knockout.
Ulberg enters this fight with an MMA record of 12-1 and 8-1 in the UFC. He averages 6.77 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 55%. Ulberg absorbs 4.21 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 51%. Regarding his grappling, Ulberg is averaging 0.58 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 60% and a takedown defense of 85%.
Reyes enters this fight with an MMA record of 15-4 and 9-4 in the UFC. He is averaging 5.58 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 54%. Reyes absorbs 3.54 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 50%. Regarding his grappling, Reyes is averaging 0.31 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 28% and a takedown defense of 82%.
Although Reyes' chin is not what it used to be, as he suffered three knockouts in a row, I'm not sure Ulberg will be able to knock him out. That being said, I think Ulberg will win this one via unanimous decision. He doesn't have as much knockout power as Reyes does, but his striking and durability are better.
Ulberg is a safer DFS option, and while Reyes is an extremely dangerous opponent, my prediction is that Ulberg's range and striking will just be too much for Reyes.
DraftKings MMA Light Heavyweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Ivan Erslan, $7.3K - vs. Jimmy Crute
Light heavyweight Crute and Erslan are scheduled for a co-main event of UFC Perth on Saturday. Crute aims to win back-to-back fights while Erslan looks for his first UFC victory.
Known for relentless forward pressure and a well-rounded skill set, Crute has been winless since 2020. He lost to former title challenger Smith, former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill, and Alonzo Menifield. His first fight with Menifield ended in a draw, as did his fight with Rodolfo Bellato.
However, he snapped a five-fight winless streak in his last bout in July at UFC by defeating Marcin Prachnio via first-round armbar. He will have a wrestling and grappling advantage in this fight.
Once known as one of the biggest prospects in the Balkans, Erslan's transition to the UFC has been rocky. He made his UFC debut in September 2024 at UFC Paris against a very dangerous Ion Cutelaba, but the fight didn't go his way as he was too tentative and suffered a split decision loss as a result.
He had a chance to get back on track in his last bout at UFC 315, but he dropped a unanimous decision to UFC debutant Navajo Stirling. There's a huge pressure on Erslan's back, and he will have to win this fight if he wants to remain in the company.
Crute enters this fight with an MMA record of 13-4-2 and 5-4-2 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.17 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 52%. Crute is absorbing 3.68 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 42%. His grappling has been elite in the UFC, averaging 4.20 takedowns every 15 minutes and 1.9 submission attempts during the same period. He has a takedown accuracy of 52% and a takedown defense of 58%.
Erslan enters this fight with an MMA record of 14-5 and 0-2 in the UFC. He averages 2.50 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 44%. Erslan absorbs 5.17 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 55%. Regarding his grappling, Erslan is averaging 0.55 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 20% and a takedown defense of 64%.
Crute is the favorite in this fight, but I'm going with Erslan. I followed his whole career, his KSW and FNC fights, and I know that he hasn't shown what he's truly capable of. His striking is better than Crute's, while Crute is leagues above Erslan when it comes to grappling. Crute also had problems with his cardio in the past, and although Erslan has been taken down six times in two UFC fights, my prediction is that Erslan will outbox Crute and win via unanimous decision.
DraftKings MMA Light Heavyweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Navajo Stirling, $9.1K - vs. Rodolfo Bellato
UFC prospect Stirling and Bellato are scheduled to headline UFC Perth prelims on Saturday. Stirling will look to extend his undefeated streak while Bellato looks to get back in the win column.
THROWING DOWN IN THE FINAL ROUND 👊
[ #UFC315 | Navajo Stirling ] pic.twitter.com/gTJwAKL9Gd
— UFC (@ufc) May 11, 2025
Stirling earned his UFC contract last September on Dana White's Contender Series after beating Phillip Latu via second-round knockout. He has had two UFC fights thus far, and he looked good in those fights. Stirling made his UFC debut in December at UFC Tampa against Tuco Tokkos, and he had a solid performance, beating Tokkos via unanimous decision.
His last fight was in May at UFC 315 against Erslan, and Stirling also beat him soundly, by unanimous decision. Known for his striking, Stirling enters this bout as the favorite.
Bellato has had one of the strangest runs in the promotion's history, posting a record of 1-0-1 with one NC to date. He joined the promotion in 2023 after beating Murtaza Talha via second-round knockout on Dana White's Contender Series. His UFC debut in December 2023 couldn't have gone any better as he finished Ihor Potieria with vicious ground and pound in the second round of their contest.
Bellato's next fight was against Crute, and it ended up in a majority draw. However, his last fight was a bizarre one. He fought UFC veteran Paul Craig, and after Craig landed an illegal upkick, Bellato tried to get Craig disqualified in hopes of getting a DQ victory, but the fight was declared a NC.
Stirling enters this fight with an MMA record of 7-0 and 2-0 in the UFC. He averages 6.43 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 52%. Stirling absorbs 2.49 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 61%. Regarding his grappling, Stirling is averaging 1.20 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 30% and a takedown defense of 78%.
Bellato enters this fight with an MMA record of 12-2-1 with one NC and 1-0-1 with one NC in the UFC. He is averaging 5.84 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 61%. Bellato absorbs 6.00 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 45%. Regarding his grappling, Bellato is averaging 1.26 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 36% and a takedown defense of 100%.
Bellato is supposed to have a better all-around skill set, but after seeing his last fight against Craig, I don't think Bellato will beat Stirling. I think this fight is going to be a striking battle, and if they decide not to go on the ground, Stirling will outpoint Bellato. Although he had a few low fight IQ moments, my prediction is that Stirling is going to outstrike Bellato en route to a unanimous decision victory.
