The UFC is live at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, with an exciting middleweight main event between Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker 2. Below is a full preview of the fights that have the most upside for MMA DFS plays. Let’s dig into some UFC DFS picks for UFC 271, and some of the best predictions for DraftKings and FanDuel MMA fantasy lineups this weekend.
UFC DFS Picks Tonight for UFC 271 Adesanya vs. Whittaker
Jeremiah Wells $9,100 vs. Mike Mathetha $7,100
Jeremiah Wells
- Age: 35
- Height: 5’9″
- Weight: 170 lbs.
- Reach: 74″
- Record: 9-2-1
- Striking Accuracy: 47%
- Betting Odds: -225
Wells is coming in off a solid knockout victory over Warlley Alves. He will be the more experienced fighter in the octagon, with 12 professional fights compared to Mathetha’s 3 professional fights. Wells is currently riding a three-fight winning streak, two via knockout and one via submission. He is an extremely powerful fighter, who showed he can shut anyone’s lights out in his last outing. Wells was originally slated to face Tim Means at UFC Vegas 48 on Feb. 5, but the fight was canceled after one of Wells’ cornermen tested positive for Covid-19. Wells will look to get this fight to the mat while looking to use his grappling to ruin Mathetha’s night early.
Mike Mathetha
- Age: 33
- Height: 5’11”
- Weight: 170 lbs.
- Reach: 73″
- Record: 3-0-0
- Striking Accuracy: 42%
- Betting Odds: +188
Mathetha is a graduate of New Zealand’s City Kicking gym and a training partner of Israel Adesanya. He is a two-time King in the Ring kickboxing champion and has finished two of his three professional fights. He was originally slated to face Orion Cosce this weekend but had to drop out after testing positive for Covid-19. This matchup with Wells should be just as tricky for Mathetha, especially with the strong grappling of Wells. Mathetha will look to keep this fight standing, while using his kicking boxing to end Wells’ night early.
The lean on DraftKings and FanDuel is Wells. His superior striking and dangerous grappling will help him secure a victory. However, do not sleep on Mathetha’s power. That said, it is tough to get an accurate read on Mathetha seeing he has only had three fights in his professional career.
UFC DFS Pick: Jeremiah Wells via Second-Round Submission
Mana Martinez $6,900 vs. Ronnie Lawrence $9,300
Mana Martinez
- Age: 25
- Height: 5’10”
- Weight: 135 lbs.
- Reach: 70″
- Record: 9-2-0
- Striking Accuracy: 55%
- Betting Odds: +225
Martinez is coming into this fight on a decision win over Guido Cannetti. He saw a five-fight win streak come to an end prior to his debut when Drako Rodriguez caught him in a triangle choke on Contender Series. Martinez has huge power in his hands that can put anyone’s lights out in a hurry. He has finished all but one of his fights via knockout within two rounds. In Martinez’s last fight he struggled with the basic pressure of Cannetti, which is not even half of the smothering pressure that Lawrence will bring to the cage. If Martinez can withstand the pressure of Lawrence and dictate where the fight takes place, then he has a clear path to victory with his devastating power.
Ronnie Lawrence
- Age: 29
- Height: 5’8″
- Weight: 135 lbs.
- Reach: 68″
- Record: 7-1-0
- Striking Accuracy: 60%
- Betting Odds: -275
Lawrence started his UFC career with a third-round knockout over Vince Cachero in February 2021. He is a well-rounded fighter that will unleash smothering pressure and use his dominant grappling prowess to ruin his opponent’s night. Lawrence will bring full smothering pressure and look to get this fight to the mat while disrupting Martinez’s rhythm. However, if Lawrence cannot get this fight to the mat, Martinez can absolutely use his devastating power to end Lawrence’s night early.
The lean on DraftKings and FanDuel is Martinez, but this fight will be an absolute war and either fighter could get the finish.
UFC DFS Pick: Mana Martinez via Second-Round KO/TKO
Jared Cannonier $8,600 vs. Derek Brunson $7,600
Jared Cannonier
- Age: 37
- Height: 5’11”
- Weight: 185 lbs.
- Reach: 77.5″
- Record: 14-5-0
- Striking Accuracy: 53%
- Betting Odds: -172
Cannonier is an extremely powerful striker with huge knockout power in his hands. He is coming off a unanimous decision win against Kelvin Gastelum in August. Cannonier has relentless pressure, walking his opponents down. Cannonier’s ground and pound is ferocious and extremely dangerous, along with heavy power striking that can put his opponents on the canvas. In this fight, Cannonier will need to stay at a distance because Brunson is a well-rounded fighter who combines powerful wrestling with huge knockout power.
Derek Brunson
- Age: 38
- Height: 6’1″
- Weight: 186 lbs.
- Reach: 77″
- Record: 23-7-0
- Striking Accuracy: 61%
- Betting Odds: +144
Brunson is coming into this matchup riding a five-fight winning streak, three coming via decision, one via knockout and most recently a submission win over Darren Till. He is a three-time Division ll All-American wrestler and looked unstopped right out of the gate, racking up seven wins in his first eight fights. However, Brunson’s road has been long and hard, losing via knockout to the likes of Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya. With that said, Brunson will be hunting for takedowns in this fight.
The lean on DraftKings and FanDuel is Brunson. However, this fight will be close and either fighter could get the victory. Have a few shares of Cannonier in your DFS lineups. An upset over Brunson is very possible.
UFC DFS Pick: Derek Brunson via Second-Round KO/TKO
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Derrick Lewis $8,800 vs. Tai Tuivasa $7,400
Derrick Lewis
- Age: 37
- Height: 6’3″
- Weight: 265 lbs.
- Reach: 79″
- Record: 26-8-0
- Striking Accuracy: 52%
- Betting Odds: -188
Lewis is extremely athletic for a heavyweight and a massive man who looks to be in the best shape of his professional career. Lewis has avoided submissions over his run in the UFC, only allowing it once in his title fight against Daniel Cormier. Lewis suffered a loss to Ciryl Gane last summer but is fresh off an impressive first-round knockout over Chris Daukaus in December. Lewis has 21 wins via knockout, one via submission, and two via decision.
Tai Tuivasa
- Age: 28
- Height: 6’2″
- Weight: 125 lbs.
- Reach: 75″
- Record: 14-3-0
- Striking Accuracy: 54%
- Betting Odds: +158
Tuivasa let the heavyweight division know he was here to stay in his UFC debut in November 2017, when he landed a supremely athletic flying knee that put Rashad Coulter’s lights out. Tuivasa is currently riding a four-fight winning streak, with all four coming via knockout. Tuivasa could continue his winning ways in this fight with his power shots and dominant striking but he will need to avoid his brawling tendencies, which always seem to leave his chin exposed for his opponents. For example, the fight with Greg Hardy last year that saw Tuivasa put on skates before he rebounded and pulled off the knockout.
The lean on DraftKings and FanDuel is Tuivasa. However, Lewis is super dangerous on the feet with his high-pressure style and heavy hands. With that said, if Tuivasa can get heavy pressure early and use the octagon to his advantage, he could possibly get the early knockout.
UFC DFS Pick: Tai Tuivasa via Second-Round KO/TKO
Israel Adesanya $9,200 vs. Robert Whittaker $7,000
Israel Adesanya
- Age: 32
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 185 lbs.
- Reach: 80″
- Record: 21-1-0
- Striking Accuracy: 53%
- Betting Odds: -260
Adesanya is coming into this matchup off a decision win over Marvin Vettori at UFC 263 in June. Adesanya had been phenomenal thus far in his UFC career, although his fight against Yoel Romero was a disappointing performance. He rebounded with an impressive knockout of Paulo Costa at UFC 253. Adesanya is a fantastic boxer with excellent movement and big power. He has 15 wins via knockout and five via decision. He has looked phenomenal at middleweight and will be patient and use his excellent movement, timing and range. Adesanya will hope to make a statement in this fight, looking for an early knockout once again. However, Whittaker has improved in all areas since their last meeting.
Robert Whittaker
- Age: 31
- Height: 6’0″
- Weight: 186 lbs.
- Reach: 73.5″
- Record: 24-5-0
- Striking Accuracy: 45%
- Betting Odds: -+215
Whittaker enters this fight riding a three-fight winning streak, with wins over Darren Till, Jared Cannonier and Kelvin Gastelum. Whittaker is a volume striker with excellent boxing skills, as he lands 4.77 significant strikes per minute. He will throw solid combinations with heavy volume and big power. Whittaker prefers to keep his fights standing, though he is a strong wrestler once the fight hits the canvas. Expect to see a different version of Whittaker in this fight, a more polished and focused fighter than in their first meeting.
The lean on DraftKings and FanDuel is Adesanya. However, Whittaker is super dangerous on the feet with solid boxing so if he can get heavy pressure early and disrupt Adesanya’s rhythm, he could possibly grind out a decision with his volume. Although, Adesanya’s experience and elite striking should prevail once again.
UFC DFS Pick: Israel Adesanya via Fourth-Round KO/TKO
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