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Justin and Jason Bales give their DraftKings MMA DFS lineup picks for the UFC 208 Main Card. Get a head start on your UFC DFS lineups for DraftKings.
What's up RotoBallers. In this column, Jason and I will be taking a look at the main card for UFC 208. 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: 84-38, Jason's Record: 65-57).
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 104.
Editor's Note: Interested in RotoBaller's MMA DFS Cheat Sheet with advanced fighter statistics, deep analysis and detailed insights from MMA DFS Experts Jason and Justin Bales? Let us know here.
Dustin Poirier vs Jim Miller
Justin’s Pick
Jim Miller is always a fun fighter to watch, but he does not have much of a chance this weekend. Dustin Poirier is coming off somewhat of a surprising loss, and he will be looking to climb up the ranks once again. Miller is an aging fighter who likely does not have too many fights left in him, while Poirier is entering his prime with championship aspirations. Poirier should be able to pick apart Miller on the feet before handing him another loss.
Dustin Poirier via TKO, 3rd Round
Jason’s Pick
The UFC basically asked Jim Miller to fight Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier due to his name recognition. This is not a very evenly matched contest, and Poirier should have no issues picking Miller apart on his feet. Miller does have a fighter’s chance, as he is difficult to finish and is a veteran in the octagon, but realistically, he Poirier will defeat him with relative ease.
Dustin Poirier via Unanimous Decision
Glover Teixeira vs Jared Cannonier
Justin’s Pick
This fight is going to end in a hurry, so if you want a beer, you’re going to have to wait. Glover Teixeira has multiple ways to end this fight, while Jared Cannonier is a knockout artist. If Teixeira can get this fight to the ground, he should be able to submit Cannonier fairly quickly. If it stays standing, both fighters have more than enough power to put the other to sleep. Generally, I go with the fighter that has more ways to win, but that is not the case here. Cannonier should be able to keep this standing long enough to land the power shot he needs to pick up the upset victory.
Jared Cannonier via TKO, 1st Round
Jason’s Pick
This is the biggest fight of Jared “The Killa Gorilla” Cannonier’s MMA career, but unfortunately, it should end rather early for him. For once, I finally disagree with Justin’s analysis. Cannonier is not the third-ranked fighter in his division – Glover Teixeira is, and for great reason. As Justin previously mentioned, Teixeira has more way to win, and he should be able to get Cannonier to the ground. If that happens, this fight is all but over.
Glover Teixeira via Submission, 1st Round
Ronaldo Souza vs Tim Boetsch
Justin’s Pick
This fight is fairly simple. Ronaldo Souza will not lose. Outside of a puncher’s chance, Tim Boetsch has no ways to win this fight. Souza can out-strike Boetsch on the feet, but he will likely take him down at will, as Boetsch has struggled to defend takedowns for much of his career. Souza can win with either ground and pound or he can sink in a quick submission. Either way, Souza won’t be in the octagon very long this weekend.
Ronaldo Souza via Submission, 1st Round
Jason’s Pick
This is another rather uneven matchup. Justin is correct here – Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza will defeat Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch easily. Boetsch has the ability to get Souza into the clinch, and his clinch game is elite, but Souza will take him to the ground and grind out a victory, or break the clinch and knock Boetsch out. Either way, it is not going to end good for the 20-win veteran. Much like Glover Teixeira, Souza is ranked third in his weight class for a reason.
Ronaldo Souza via Submission, 1st Round
Anderson Silva vs Derek Brunson
Justin’s Pick
This is a tough fight to predict, as Anderson Silva has the discipline and defense to avoid Derek Brunson’s wild offense, but he hasn’t won in the UFC since 2012. Granted, the Bisping fight was a bit controversial, and he took the fight against Cormier on short notice and in a different weight class. Both men have good power, but Brunson throws at a higher rate. Brunson also has the threat of a takedown, which gives him a slight advantage, although this fight could certainly go either way.
Derek Brunson via TKO, 1st Round
Jason’s Pick
Justin has been talking up Anderson “The Spider” Silva for the last week, so this is a little bit surprising, but there is no disagreement here. Derek Brunson is in his prime right now, while Silva is on the decline. If Silva does win, he will likely get to fight against Conor McGregor, so that is a great incentive, but he has to weather the storm that Brunson brings in the first round, and it is just going to be too much. Brunson is going to start swinging early and often, and he will catch Silva in the first round.
Derek Brunson via KO, 1st Round
Holly Holm vs Germaine de Randamie
Justin’s Pick
Holly Holm has been on a bit of a skid recently, but it has been to elite competition. Germaine de Randamie has also only lost to elite competition in the UFC. She has a perfect Muay Thai record, while Holly Holm is an elite kick boxer. This fight is going to be won or lost with distance. If de Randamie can close the distance, she can win inside the clinch. If she can’t, Holm will be able to pick her apart from the outside. I believe the former is slightly more likely to happen, and de Randamie will find her third consecutive finish.
Germaine de Randamie via TKO, 4th Round
Jason’s Pick
The Vegas odds on this fight are a little bit confusing, in my humble opinion. Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm is the better fighter. Germaine “The Iron Lady” de Randamie is no slouch in the octagon, but Holm should be able to win the battle on the feet. She also has a higher likelihood of ending the fight early, which should give her a huge advantage in a five-round fight. I do not expect Holm to lose, as she will make history becoming the first ever UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion.
Holly Holm via KO, 2nd Round
