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Justin Bales gives his DraftKings MMA DFS lineup picks for the Fight Night 113 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 113. 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: 134-62).
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 113.
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.
James Mulheron vs Justin Willis
The opening fight will feature two heavyweight prospects, who will each be making their UFC debut. They combine for a 15-2 record with nine knockouts. Willis is a mountain of a human being, who will have a massive size advantage in this fight. If he is able to stay healthy during his weight cut, which was a problem in his first opportunity to fight in the UFC, he will be able to simply overpower Mulheron in this fight. Willis has the power to win via knockout, but he also could eek out a decision if necessary. It won’t be long before Mulheron’s speed advantage fades, but Willis will have the power advantage for as long as this fight lasts.
Justin Willis, KO, 2nd Round
Khalil Rountree Jr. vs Paul Craig
This is another exciting fight on the main card. Rountree has the type of power that if he touches his opponent, a knockout is coming. With that being said, he has struggled with defensive wrestling throughout his UFC career, although he looked slightly better in his last fight. Luckily for him, Craig isn’t a dominant wrestler, although he’ll likely be trying to get this fight to the ground as quick as possible. Rountree should be able to fend off some takedown attempts before landing heavy shots for a knockout.
Khalil Rountree Jr., KO, 1st Round
Jack Marshman vs Ryan Janes
This should be a fun fight between two stand-up fighters. Marshman throws at a much lower rate than Janes, but tends to land with more power. Janes is the more active striker that uses his stand up to set up submissions. Ultimately, Marshman’s power is going to be the difference in this fight. They will each likely land at a somewhat similar rate, but Marshman will be able to pack more power into each of his strikes. He’ll end this fight with another dominant knockout.
Jack Marshman, TKO, 3rd Round
Stevie Ray vs Paul Felder
Ray and Felder are two that have enjoyed plenty of success in the UFC in their careers. Both love to use their striking rather than grappling, and this fight will likely play out almost exclusively on the feet. Felder is a fighter that needs space to utilize spinning techniques, while Ray will be looking to close the distance and turn this into a dirty fight in the clinch. Ray the more accurate striker with better defense, as well. He should be able to land more in the exchanges to outpoint Felder in a decision victory.
Stevie Ray via Unanimous Decision
Joanne Calderwood vs Cynthia Calvillo
Calvillo has looked dominant in her short UFC career, but she will get her toughest test to date in Calderwood this weekend. Calderwood has been taken down and submitted throughout her UFC career, but she’s an active striker, who comes with plenty of power. Calvillo hasn’t been overly aggressive with her takedowns, but it’s hard to imagine that will not be her gameplan this weekend. With that being said, Calderwood has respectable takedown defense, and she will have the advantage on the feet. Calvillo could land a quick takedown and submit Calderwood at any point in this fight, but I’m sounding the mild upset alarms in this fight.
Joanne Calderwood via Unanimous Decision
Gunnar Nelson vs Santiago Ponzinibbio
This fight is fairly simple to breakdown. Nelson is an elite grappler, while Ponzinibbio will have a clear advantage on the feet. Nelson will use his unorthodox striking to get close to Ponzinibbio before taking him to the ground. Once he gets there, he will use his superior grappling to advance positions and win by submission. It’s only a matter of which round Nelson will be able to do this in.
Gunnar Nelson, Submission, 2nd Round
