UFC DFS Picks Today: Best UFC 272 DraftKings & FanDuel MMA Fantasy

The UFC is live at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with an exciting welterweight main event for UFC 272: Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal. Below is a full fight card preview, and a look at the fights that have the most upside for UFC DFS purposes. Let’s dig into some UFC DFS picks for UFC 272, and some of the best DraftKings UFC predictions and FanDuel MMA lineups this weekend.

UFC 272 Covington vs. Masvidal | MMA DFS Picks & Predictions

Brian Kelleher $6,600 vs. Umar Nurmagomedov $9,600

Brian Kelleher

Age: 35
Height: 5-foot-6
Weight: 145 lbs.
Reach: 66 ins
Record: 24-12-0
Striking Accuracy: 55%
Betting Odds: +490

Kelleher is a tough veteran of the sport who could cause some problems for Nurmagomedov. He has huge power and can put his opponents’ lights out with his dangerous overhand-right. On the ground, Kelleher will inflict nasty ground-and-pound or lock in his signature guillotine. Seven of his 10 submission wins are by guillotine choke. Kelleher absorbs 4.63 significant strikes per minute, while Nurmagomedov allows 0.81. He has won five of his last seven fights. Those two defeats have come against Cody Stamann and Ricky Simon. If Kelleher can bring relentless pressure and get this fight to the mat, he could find the back of Nurmagomedov and lock in his patent guillotine.

Umar Nurmagomedov

Age: 25
Height: 5-foot-8
Weight: 145 lbs.
Reach: 69 ins
Record: 13-0-0
Striking Accuracy: 67%
Betting Odds: -750

Umar is a cousin to Khabib Nurmagomedov. He is relatively flying under the radar as one the top prospects in the UFC, which is likely due to him only having one fight in the promotion. On the feet, Nurmagomedov throws extremely dangerous and powerful kicks from both stances. His cardio is unbelievable, and seemingly has a tank that never reaches empty. Nurmagomedov’s ground game is dangerous. Once there, he is always seeking the submission. I expect Nurmagomedov will pick Kelleher apart on the feet and win the exchanges on the mat.

The lean for DraftKings UFC picks and FanDuel MMA lineups is Nurmagomedov. However, I expect this fight will be an absolute war. The toughness of Kelleher could cause some issues for Nurmagomedov, but I expect Nurmagomedov’s plethora of skills will secure his second victory in the UFC. As a sidenote, Nurmagomedov is Top 3 in points for both for DraftKings and FanDuel, according to the Awesemo UFC DFS projections.

UFC DFS Pick: Umar Nurmagomedov via Second-Round Submission

Jalin Turner $8,200 vs. Jamie Mullarkey $8,000

Jalin Turner

Age: 26
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 155 lbs.
Reach: 77 ins
Record: 11-5-0
Striking Accuracy: 51%
Betting Odds: -170

Turner is on an absolute tear, winning three straight fights — two via submission and one via knockout. He has tight, sharp and powerful striking with a solid ground game that he has showcased in his last two bouts. I expect Turner will have this fight covered in all aspects. He will be the higher volume striker and have the more powerful shots. The one concern is the durability of Mullarkey, which could make it hard for Turner to find the finish. However, with the strong showings in his last three fights, I expect he will ware on Mullarkey and find another finish.

Jamie Mullarkey

Age: 27
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 155 lbs.
Reach: 74 ins
Record: 14-4-0
Striking Accuracy: 43%
Betting Odds: +138

Mullarkey is coming into this fight with two knockout wins over Khama Worthy and Devonte Smith. He is an extremely durable fighter with solid striking. He won Fight of the Night bonus for his fight against Brad Riddell at UFC 243. His fight against Fares Ziam was a bit worrisome for his future, although he has bounced back in his last two fights nicely. Mullarkey’s toughness and pressure could cause Turner a lot of problems, but I expect Turner can land enough offense to disrupt Mullarkey’s rhythm.

When checking into this on DraftKings and FanDuel, my preference is Turner, who comes inside the Top 15 in the UFC DFS projections for points. However, I expect this fight will be close and either fighter could get the finish. Have a few shares of Mullarkey in your MMA DFS lineups — because there is slight upset potential here.

UFC DFS Pick: Jalin Turner via Second-Round KO/TKO

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Edson Barboza 7,900 vs. Bryce Mitchell $8,300

Edson Barboza

Age: 36
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 145 lbs.
Reach: 75 ins.
Record: 22-10-0
Striking Accuracy: 45%
Betting Odds: +128

Barboza utilizes devastating leg kicks to do damage to his opponents to the point of a stoppage. He will have a clear advantage at range and should pull ahead in the stand-up with his elite striking. Barboza is 2-2 in the UFC, picking up solid wins against Makwan Amirkhani and Shane Burgos. His reaction times have slowed with age, and he has become more hittable. However, Barboza still has huge power in his left hook that can put his opponents’ lights out in a hurry. The key for Barboza will be to defend Mitchell’s takedowns and keep this fight on the feet.

Bryce Mitchell

Mitchell is a solid wrestler, holding a 14-1 professional record, and he has won each of his five bouts in the UFC. In his last fight against Andre Fili, he was able to land seven takedowns on 13 attempts, which earned him over 10 minutes of control time. Mitchell is averaging 3.30 takedowns per 15 minutes, and his top game is extremely dangerous. His striking is low volume, landing 2.29 significant strikes pre minute, while only absorbing 1.47 per minute. In this fight, I expect Mitchell will avoid pocket exchanges with Barboza and look to get this fight to the mat early. If Mitchell can take Barboza down multiple times, then he could control Barboza on the mat and grind out a decision.

Age: 27
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 125 lbs.
Reach: 70 ins.
Record: 14-1-0
Striking Accuracy: 69%
Betting Odds: -158

Barboza is super dangerous on the feet with his high-pressure style and devastating leg kicks. That said, If Mitchell can get takedowns early and use the octagon to his advantage, he could possibly control Barboza and lock in a submission. My FanDuel and DraftKings MMA lean on this fight is Mitchell.

UFC DFS Pick: Bryce Mitchell via Second-Round Submission

Colby Covington $9,400 vs. Jorge Masvidal $6,800

Colby Covington

Age: 34
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 170 lbs.
Reach: 72 ins.
Record: 16-3-0
Striking Accuracy: 50%
Betting Odds: -340

Covington can wrestle at an extremely high pace and strike at an even higher pace. His cardio is outstanding and Covington’s gas tank seems endless. His strategy is to use the underhook to his advantage in clinch exchanges. It gives him the ability to change level and attack the lower body. Covington’s striking is on point, as he showed in the first meeting against Kumaru Usman when he landed almost 600 strikes in five rounds. He is averaging 4.14 significant strikes per minute, while absorbing 3.08 per minute. This should be an all-out war between the former friends and training partners.

Jorge Masvidal

Age: 37
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 170 lbs.
Reach: 74 ins.
Record: 35-15-0
Striking Accuracy: 55%
Betting Odds: +260

Masvidal is coming into this matchup off a knockout loss to Kumaru Usman in April. However, before the two fights with Usman, Masvidal had three consecutive knockout wins over Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz. He is a dangerous and deadly striker. However, Masvidal’s weakness is his poor wrestling and defending the takedown, which should give Covington a big advantage in this fight. He lands 4.33 significant strikers per minute and only absorbs 2.94 per minute. Masvidal has 16 wins via knockout, two via submission and 17 via decision. Masvidal will be prepared for this fight. However, Covington’s pressure and outstanding cardio will force Masvidal to fight off his back foot, which should create an opening for Covington to land heavy punches and ware on Masvidal.

My lean on DraftKings and FanDuel is Covington. However, Masvidal is super dangerous on the feet with solid power. If Masvidal can get heavy pressure early and disrupt Covington’s rhythm, he could possibly land a power shot that could finish Covington. That said, I expect Covington’s wrestling, elite striking and outstanding cardio to prevail in this main event fight.

UFC DFS Pick: Colby Covington via Unanimous Decision

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