2 weeks agoOn a three-fight winning streak, Nassourdine Imavov (12-3) will take to Saturday's first main event of 2023 against late-replacement Sean Strickland. Two of his four UFC wins (4-1) have come by a finish and nine of his 12 career wins, with five of them via knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees Imavov as the favorite with a salary of $8,700. Imavov is taking a big step up in competition against someone like Strickland, and this could be a very dangerous endeavor for Imavov.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 weeks agoAfter competing less than a month ago, Sean Strickland (25-5) steps up on late notice to compete in Saturday's main event to battle a tough opponent in Nassourdine Imavov. After riding a six-fight winning streak starting in 2018, Strickland has since lost his last two matchups against top-tier talent and will look to prevent a three-fight losing streak. Proving himself as a finisher throughout his career, 14 of his 25 wins have come via the finish, with 10 of the coming by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees the late fill-in as a big underdog with a salary of $7,700. 4-1 in the UFC, Imavov is taking a step up in competition, and Strickland could prove to be a sneaky steal for your fantasy lineups.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 weeks agoOn a very solid run during his second stint in the UFC, Damon Jackson (22-4-1) will make his first appearance of 2023 in Saturday night's co-main event as he faces off with struggling opponent Dan Ige. 5-1 after returning to the Octagon, three of Jackson's five wins since his return have come via the finish. Overall in his career, 19 of his 22 wins have come by the finish, with 15 of them via submission. DraftKings sees Jackson as the underdog against a struggling Ige, though, with a salary of $7,800. At this value, Jackson could score big for fantasy managers.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 weeks agoThe first co-main event of 2023 will feature featherweight action when Dan Ige (15-6) returns hoping to break his three-fight winning skid as he battles veteran Damon Jackson on Saturday. Bursting onto the UFC scene in 2018 after a 2017 DWCS victory in 2017, Ige won six fights in a row after dropping his debut bout. The streak came to an end with a loss to Calvin Kattar, and since then he has gone 1-3, losing his last three fights in a row, all by decision. DraftKings sees Ige making a rebound with a salary of $8,400. Facing a taller, better grappler in Jackson might prove to be difficult for Ige, though.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 weeks agoLooking for his 10th professional victory, Roman Kopylov (9-2) will enter the Octagon on Saturday to face Punahele Soriano, who sports a similar record. After losing back-to-back matchups, the first losses of his career, Kopylov rebounded with a third-round knockout victory back in September. A dangerous finisher like his opponent, eight of Kopylov's nine career wins have come by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees Kopylov as the underdog in this matchup, though, with a salary of $7,700. Regardless of who you choose in this matchup, look for this one to potentially end with a first-round finish.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 weeks agoAfter suffering back-to-back losses in the Octagon, Punahele Soriano (9-2) will look for his 10th career victory and back-to-back wins when he faces off against Roman Kopylov. Soriano is coming off of an impressive knockout win back in July in the second round of action. A dangerous finisher, not only in the UFC but throughout his career, six of his nine victories have come by way of knockout/TKO, including all three of his UFC victories. DraftKings sees Soriano as the favorite with a salary of $8,500 heading into Saturday's matchup. Kopylov, who is also 9-2, just rebounded from back-to-back losses with a victory in his last showing.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 weeks agoWith a fifth straight victory looming in the balance, Raquel Pennington (14-8) will take to the Octagon on Saturday against a very stiff opponent in Ketlen Vieira. A veteran of the UFC since TUF Season 18 in 2013, Pennington has earned a solid 11-5 record, including wins over two rising stars in Macy Chiasson and Aspen Ladd in her last two contests. A very slight underdog in the matchup, DraftKings has listed Pennington with a salary of $8,000. This is truly a matchup that could go either way.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 weeks agoWith back-to-back wins over former champions, Ketlen Vieira (13-2) will look for her third straight victory when she faces off with Raquel Pennington on Saturday night's main card of action. 7-2 in the UFC, Vieira has looked impressive in defeating many of the division's top veterans. Showing she has the ability to dictate the control and pace of a contest, seven of her 13 career wins have come by decision. DraftKings sees Vieira as a very slight favorite with a salary of $8,200. Pennington is on a four-fight winning streak and could prove to be a very tough test for Vieira at this point in her career.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 weeks agoLooking to earn his second victory over Umar Nurmagomedov, Brazil's Raoni Barcelos (17-3) will look to earn a victory in 2023's first main-card opener when he faces Nurmagomedov on Saturday. With only one win in his last three contests, Barcelos is coming off of a unanimous-decision win over Trevin Jones last October. A massive underdog according to DraftKings, Barcelos is listed with a salary of $6,900. Proven to be a finisher in his career, 10 of his 17 wins have come via the finish, with eight coming by knockout/TKO. He is faced with a very difficult task in the undefeated Nurmagomedov.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 weeks agoUndefeated rising star Umar Nurmagomedov (15-0) will open up Saturday's main card of action when he battles Raoni Barcelos. Currently with two finishes among his three UFC wins, Nurmagomedov can continue his climb up the bantamweight ranks, where he currently sits at No. 11. Among his 15 career wins, seven have come via submission. DraftKings sees him as the huge favorite with a salary of $9,300. With his opponent only scoring a victory one time since 2020, Nurmagomedov could pick up a big win in the night's main-card opener.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

1 month agoIn the closest bout on Saturday night's main card of action, Sean Strickland was on the losing end of a split decision against Jared Cannonier. After going 5-0 since his 2020 return, Strickland has now lost back-to-back fights. His last loss prior to Saturday was to now-champion Alex Pereira. There is no shame in the losses Strickland has suffered. After taking a step down in competition, Strickland could have another solid year of performance. In 25 minutes of main-event action Saturday, Strickland actually out-struck Cannonier by landing 152 significant strikes to Cannonier's 141.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

1 month agoAble to successfully rebound from his middleweight title challenge loss at UFC 276, Jared Cannonier earned a close split-decision victory in Saturday night's main event against Sean Strickland. In 25 minutes of action, Cannonier landed 141 significant strikes while absorbing 152 from Strickland. The win gives Cannonier his third win in four contests, along with another victory over another top-tier middleweight. Another victory or two could find Cannonier back in the title picture, especially with a new champion in Alex Pereira.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

1 month agoWith an impressive 19-fight winning streak entering Saturday's co-main event, Damir Ismagulov was also looking to remain perfect in the UFC against a tough foe in Arman Tsarukyan. After 15 minutes of action, Ismagulov did not find himself on the winning side of a unanimous decision. Though statistically the fighters were close -- Ismagulov's 36 significant strikes compared favorably to Tsarukyan's 34 -- Ismagulov was taken down seven times before he was eventually defeated. He should still be a fighter to keep on eye on in 2023, and you might be able to catch him at a slight discount in his next outing after this loss.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

1 month agoDominating to move to 6-2 in the UFC, Arman Tsarukyan took a unanimous-decision victory in Saturday night's co-main event to set him up nicely as a rising star in the lightweight division for 2023. In 15 minutes of action, Tsarukyan tallied 34 significant strikes (50 total strikes) and landed seven takedowns on the night. With the finishing skills he has displayed in the UFC, look for Tsarukyan to be a contributor to your fantasy rosters in 2023.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

1 month agoHoping to earn a victory in his UFC debut to win his eight straight fight, Alessandro Costa was unable to get that victory and suffered a third-round TKO loss to Amir Albazi on the main card of Saturday's action. In 12:13 of action, Costa was only able to tally 17 significant strikes compared to that of Albazi's 37. After a close first round, Costa ate a huge uppercut in the third round that ended his night. It's still very early in Costa's UFC career, so let's wait and see how he fares in his next contest.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN