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Justin Bales gives his DraftKings MMA DFS lineup picks for the Fight Night 112 Main Card. Get a head start on your UFC DFS lineups for DraftKings.
What's up RotoBallers. In this column, I will be taking a look at the main card for Fight Night 112. Our analysis will help you with your DraftKings MMA lineups. We will be keeping track based on picking winners and losers. We will also predict how the fight will be finished, but that will not reflect in the records (Justin's Record: 127-59).
MMA has one of the best sweats in DFS. Two fighters compete at a time with only one coming out as the winner. It's the best feeling in the world when you are watching the main event of a show and know you need a first round knockout to win the entire tournament. And nothing feels worse than when you need a first round knockout by Stipe Miocic to win thousands of dollars in a tournament, but when he lands that knockout punch, you realize that you placed 14th because Jacare Souza was too dominant in a previous fight. This was a serious scenario that I had to live through when Miocic won the Heavyweight Championship. Without anymore waiting, here are our DFS lineup picks and DraftKings analysis for the main card at Fight Night 112.
Editor's Note: Interested in RotoBaller's MMA DFS Cheat Sheet with advanced fighter statistics, deep analysis and detailed insights from MMA DFS Expert Justin Bales? Let us know here.
B.J. Penn vs Dennis Siver
It feels wrong picking against Penn so easily, but he is a shell of his former self. He’s 0-4-1 in his last five fights and he has not won since 2010. Siver has been far from an elite fighter in the last couple years, but he simply looks as if he has more left in the tank. Penn was hit early and often against Yair Rodriguez, and Siver should be able to do that, as well. He’ll pick his shots before landing the knockout punch later in the fight.
Dennis Siver via TKO, 3rd Round
Tim Means vs Alex Garcia
Means and Garcia are two fighters that will have distinct game plans, and whoever can work their game plan better will win. Means has a distinct advantage on the feet, and he is one of the best strikers Garcia has ever seen. He can strike from a distance, but also throws strong elbows in the clinch. Garcia, on the other hand, will be looking to turn this fight into a grappling match. Means will have to use his length and striking to keep Garcia at distance, but it would be surprising if Garcia cannot land a few takedowns in this fight. He will impose his will early before gassing and being knocked out late in the fight.
Tim Means via TKO, 3rd Round
Joachim Christensen vs Dominick Reyes
This is essentially a showcase fight for Reyes. He has looked impressive against inferior competition, as he finished five of his six fights in the first round. He’s a wrestler that comes with great power and submission prowess. Christensen has struggled a bit in the UFC, but he has displayed a great chin. I don’t necessarily think that is going to help him because of the grappling ability to Reyes. It should be a quick win that will thrust Reyes into the spotlight on the main card.
Dominick Reyes, TKO, 1st Round
Felice Herrig vs Justine Kish
Herrig will be Kish’s toughest test to date. Each of Herrig’s last three losses have come against high end competition, while Kish is undefeated against worse competition. Kish was able to win her last fight, but she looked lost in grappling situations, and Herrig will make her pay for that in this fight. Kish will have the advantage on the feet, but it shouldn’t be long before Herrig takes this fight to the ground and pulls out a victory.
Felice Herrig via Unanimous Decision
Tim Boetsch vs Johny Hendricks
Hendricks looked good in his middleweight debut, as he came away with a decision victory. Boetsch is far from an elite fighter, but he’s a great wrestler that comes with elite power. Hendricks has displayed a great chin during his UFC career, but he has not faced many fighters with the power of Boetsch. Hendricks should be able to outwork Boetsch, but there is always the threat of a knockout from “The Barbarian.” This is a tough call, but Hendricks will work at a faster pace and land more for his second consecutive victory.
Johny Hendricks via Unanimous Decision
Michael Chiesa vs Kevin Lee
This is far and away my favorite fight on the card. Lee is a better striker than Chiesa, and his easiest path to victory would likely be keeping the fight standing and out-striking him. Lee isn’t the type of fighter to fall back on a game plan, though. He has elite wrestling and has stated that his submissions are better than Chiesa’s. Once he uses his wrestling tog get this fight to the ground, he is in Chiesa’s world. Chiesa has a world-class rear-naked choke, and while Lee also has a great game on his opponent’s back, he likely won’t be able to get there this weekend. Chiesa also has other ways to tap Lee from multiple different positions. It could take a few rounds, but he’ll use his elite grappling to submit Lee in a fun bout.
Michael Chiesa via Submission, 3rd Round
