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DraftKings MMA, UFC DFS lineup picks for UFC Vegas 105: Emmett vs. Murphy on 04/05/25. MMA DFS analysis to build winning daily fantasy UFC lineups.
The UFC returns to the Apex in Las Vegas for Saturday’s fight card. UFC Vegas 105 is set to kick off the promotion’s schedule for April 2025. This UFC Vegas event will mark the promotion’s comeback to the Apex after their international endeavors in London and Mexico over the last two weekends. An intriguing showdown inside the featherweight division will headline UFC Vegas 105 this Saturday. The winner is likely going to put himself right in the title mix. The co-main event also features an exciting featherweight fight between Pat Sabatini and Joanderson Brito.
To open up the UFC Vegas 105 main card, Robert Valentin welcomes undefeated Torrez Finney, who is also set to make his UFC debut. Ode’ Osbourne and Luis Gurule are set for a main card flyweight scrap before a middleweight fight between Brad Tavares and Gerald Meerschaert. Also on the main card, we have Cortavious Romious searching for his first UFC win against ChangHo Lee, who made his UFC debut in his last bout.
In this article, I will be providing you with my fantasy MMA lineup picks for UFC Vegas 105: Emmett vs. Murphy on 4/5/25. Give me a follow on X @sumpor5. Good luck!
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DraftKings MMA Featherweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Josh Emmett, $6,9K - vs. Lerone Murphy
On Saturday, Josh Emmett is scheduled to take on Lerone Murphy in the main event of UFC Vegas 105. Emmett looks to win back-to-back fights, while Murphy will look to earn a title shot after winning seven fights in a row.
Media Day is WRAPPED in Vegas ✅#UFCVegas105 is almost here! pic.twitter.com/Cp6DU338wi
— UFC (@ufc) April 3, 2025
The last time we saw Emmett in action was almost a year and a half ago. Emmett hasn’t fought since knocking out Bryce Mitchell at UFC 296 back in December 2023, which was one of the most brutal UFC knockouts from the past few years.. By beating Mitchell, Emmett returned to the win column after losing two in a row, including an interim title fight against Yair Rodriguez and a unanimous decision loss to Ilia Topuria. Before those two losses, Emmett was on a five-fight winning streak.
Despite being undefeated in the UFC with seven wins and one draw, Murphy is rarely mentioned in title conversations. Murphy only has one minor blemish on his record: a 2019 split draw with Zubaira Tukhugov in Murphy’s UFC debut. Last year, Murphy went 2-0, defeating Edson Barboza and, more recently, Dan Ige. The 33-year-old extended his unbeaten streak to 16 when he defeated Ige by decision in 2024 at UFC 308.
Emmett enters this fight with an MMA record of 19-4 and 10-4 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.04 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 36%. Emmett absorbs 4.61 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 61%. Regarding his wrestling, Emmett is averaging 0.91 takedowns every 15 minutes. Emmett has a takedown accuracy of 37% and a takedown defense of 46%.
Murphy enters this fight with an MMA record of 15-0-1 and 7-0-1 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.80 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 54%. Murphy absorbs 2.67 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 60%. His wrestling is solid as well, averaging 1.78 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 54% and a takedown defense of 48%.
Although Murphy is undefeated, he hasn't faced someone with one-punch knockout power like Emmett. Also, Emmett has the wrestling advantage, even though he usually likes a striking battle. Considering that this is a five-round fight, I see Murphy outlanding Emmett, but I think eventually, Emmett's going to catch Murphy and knock him out. My prediction is that Emmett gets this done via a third or fourth-round knockout.
DraftKings MMA Featherweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Joanderson Brito, $8.7K - vs. Pat Sabatini
This Saturday, the co-main event of UFC Vegas 105 features Joanderson Brito and Pat Sabatini in a three-round featherweight bout. Brito will look to get back in the win column after dropping a controversial split decision, while Sabatini looks to win back-to-back fights.
Back in September 2024, in his last bout, Brito faced off against William Gomis. Brito could have easily been on a six-fight winning streak if not for some controversial judging in his last appearance, which gave the victory to Gomis. Before his bout against Gomis, Brito defeated Jack Shore after the doctor stopped the fight because Shore received a nasty cut on the shin. Known for his power, explosiveness, and recklessness, Brito represents a formidable challenge for Sabatini in their upcoming bout at UFC Vegas 105.
Pat Sabatini was last seen in action back in October 2024 at UFC Vegas 98, where he got back in the win column by defeating Jonathan Pearce via first-round rear-naked choke submission. Prior to that bout, Sabatini was knocked out at UFC 295 by Diego Lopes, who is now scheduled to face off against Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title. Known for his grappling, Sabatini has gone 2-2 in his last four, beating Lucas Almeida and Pearce and losing to already mentioned Lopes and Damon Jackson.
Brito enters this fight with an MMA record of 17-4-1 and 5-2 in the UFC. He is averaging 3.02 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 50%. Brito is absorbing 2.70 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 44%. His grappling is solid, averaging 3.08 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 68% and a takedown defense of 72%.
Sabatini enters this fight with an MMA record of 19-5 and 6-2 in the UFC. He is averaging 1.94 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 59%. Sabatini is absorbing 1.47 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 48%. His grappling has been outstanding in the UFC, averaging 3.97 takedowns every 15 minutes and 2.0 submission attempts during the same period. Sabatini has a takedown accuracy of 44% and a takedown defense of 50%.
I expect this bout to be a contender for “Fight of the Night.” Although both fighters are well-rounded, Brito's strength lies in his striking, while Sabatini has an edge when it comes to his grappling. That being said, Brito is much better in the striking department than Sabatini. Not only that, but it should also be noted that Sabatini has a suspect chin. I think Brito is going to knock Sabatini out in the second round. If not, he should be able to win a unanimous decision.
DraftKings MMA Bantamweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
ChangHo Lee, $8.4K - vs. Cortavious Romious
ChangHo Lee is scheduled to face off against Cortavious Romious on the main card of UFC Vegas 105 on Saturday. Lee made his UFC debut in his last fight and will look to win back-to-back fights, and Romious looks for his first UFC win.
Lee earned his UFC contract back in August 2023 after winning back-to-back fights on the “Road to UFC” tournament. First, he defeated Rana Singh, and after that, he defeated Daermisi Zhawupasi, both via TKO. Lee was last seen in action back in June 2024 at UFC Saudi Arabia, where he kicked off his UFC career by defeating Long Xiao via split decision. Known for his grappling and ground and pound, Lee is currently on a four-fight winning streak. Lee was beaten only once in his pro career, back in 2022, by Sim Kai Xiong.
Romious joined the promotion after winning back-to-back fights and after beating Michael Imperato via unanimous decision on the Contender Series. That was Romious's second appearance on the Contender Series, the first being in 2023, where he suffered a TKO loss to Ramon Taveras. Romious made his UFC debut in his last fight at UFC Vegas 100, where Gaston Bolanos defeated him via unanimous decision.
Lee enters this fight with an MMA record of 10-1 and 1-0 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.90 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 70%. Lee absorbs 2.65 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 37%. Regarding his wrestling, Lee is averaging 3.24 takedowns every 15 minutes. Lee has a takedown accuracy of 30% and a takedown defense of 38%.
Romious enters this fight with an MMA record of 9-3 and 0-1 in the UFC. He is averaging 2.10 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 37%. Romious absorbs 3.02 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 39%. He has shown solid grappling ability, averaging 1.97 takedowns every 15 minutes. Romious has a takedown accuracy of 66% and a takedown defense of 70%.
Romious’s success often hinges on his grappling, but Lee’s takedown defense and clinch work could neutralize this advantage. It seems that Lee is just better in every aspect of the fight. I expect this to look like a “Striker vs. Grappler” matchup. Lee is a bigger fighter, and it seems that he punches harder than Romious. Romious will likely wrestle, but I don't see him finishing or holding down Lee for long. He couldn't do much against Bolanos, who is a less skilled grappler than Lee. I predict that Lee will win this fight via unanimous decision.
