The UFC will be live from Miami-Dade Arena for UFC 287.  The main card will air on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+. The main event will feature a middleweight title bout with Alex Pereira defending his title in a rematch against Israel Adesanya. The co-main event will feature Gilbert Burns in a welterweight bout against Jorge Masvidal. Below are some UFC 287 DFS picks, including key Alex Pereira-Israel Adesanya DFS plays, with the help of Stokastic’s MMA DFS projections.
Let’s see what is on tap and find some of the best UFC 287 DFS picks for DraftKings and FanDuel lineups.
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UFC 287 DFS Picks: Alex Pereira-Israel Adesanya
Top-End Pick: Ignacio Bahamondes | DraftKings: $9,400, FanDuel: $22
Ignacio Bahamondes is coming in with back-to-back wins after finishing Roosevelt Roberts via knockout in August of 2021 and Zhu Rong via submission in February of 2022. This will be at catchweight (160 lbs.), which will help Trey Ogden not to have to endure another cut. He was originally scheduled to face Manuel Torres, but that fell through weeks ago. That said, even with over a year off, expect fireworks from Bahamondes. He always offers excitement inside the cage. Expect Bahamondes to damage Ogden early and drag him to the mat for the finish. According to The Top Fighters Tool, Bahamondes has a 74.7% chance of winning and a 33.4% chance of finishing as a top-6 fighter.
Mid-Priced Pick: Joe Pyfer | DraftKings: $8,700, FanDuel: $17
Joe Pyfer has won seven of his 10 fights via knockout and is coming in hot with his last three all coming via early stoppage. He has dangerous power in his hands, notably his right, which can end his opponent’s night in a hurry. Pyfer has been training closely with elite grappler Sean Brady and is beginning to become more comfortable taking the fight to the mat. Expect this fight not to go the distance and Pyfer’s power right to rock Gerald Meerschaert to the point of an early finish. Stokastic’s MMA DFS projections give him a 64.1% chance of winning with a 50.9% chance for a knockout.
Mid-Priced Pick: Adrian Yanez | DraftKings: $8,500, FanDuel: $16
Adrian Yanez is coming in hot riding a nine-fight win streak. His power striking earned has earned him the performance bonus in all of his UFC bouts. He will take on Rob Font, who is currently on a three-fight skid and seemingly on the decline. Font absorbed a ton of damage over his last two fights and could be in trouble facing Yanez’s speed, power, and slick movement in the octagon. Expect Yanez to fire with evil intentions looking to hurt Font early, which could lead to another finish. According to Stokastic’s MMA DFS projections, Yanez has a 62.2% chance of winning with a 37.3% chance for a knockout.
Value Pick: Steve Garcia | DraftKings: $7,500, FanDuel: $14
Steve Garcia is coming in with an impressive knockout over Chase Hooper in September. He is a bulldog in the cage and will keep coming as he looks to finish his opponent. If he uses his pressure and power effectively and doesn’t overextend, he’ll have a chance for success.
That said, there is a ton of risk in rostering Garcia in your DFS lineups, but he could provide solid leverage at 17.9% ownership. Expect Garcia to use pressure to try and disrupt Shayilan Nuerdanbieke’s rhythm while looking for a power shot to end his night. Garcia does have 10 wins via knockout, and Nuerdanbieke has been finished eight times in his UFC career, six times via submission and two via knockout. Stokastic’s MMA DFS projections give him a 34.2% chance of winning.
Quick Pick: Alex Pereira | DraftKings: $7,900, FanDuel: $19
Alex Pereira is a solid value at only $7,900 in a five-round fight with the potential for another finish.
