MMA DFS plays for this weekend’s UFC 251

Heading into this week’s UFC 251 contest, it’s time to take a look at my MMA DFS picks for the week. With DraftKings having a Milly Maker contest, I’m focusing on doing 100 lineups along with three main lineups in smaller contests. I plan on focusing this article around my three core fights that will be in my main lineups and most likely highest exposure fighters in the Milly Maker.

• Amanda Ribas — I understand you all think I’m copping out and choosing her first because she’s the most expensive and the heaviest favorite on the slate. Her opponent, Paige VanZant, doesn’t have a lot going for her here. She hasn’t fought in a long time, and Ribas looks unbeatable. I doubted her in her last fight, and she ended up being in the optimal builds. Even if it goes three rounds, I see her dominating from start to finish. With a safe floor and high ceiling, it’s tough to not lock her in.
• Kamaru Usman — A note for the newbies in MMA DFS: Play the five-round fights. It’s the highest upside of all the slates and end up being in the winning lineups in 95% of these slates. I understand it’s chalky, but given the upside of this going the distance, this is the optimal fight. As for Usman, his odds keep getting bigger and bigger and he seems like a lock to win this fight. Good odds plus five-round fight means sign me up.
• Jéssica Andrade — I understand Max Holloway has the best shot at an upset, but showing up at 40-45% ownership in a fight that he comes in as underdog screams leverage to me. Enter Andrade. She has an uphill battle going against Rose Namajunas, but it’s a battle that she can win. This is the second-likeliest upset on this slate and I’m going to shy away from Holloway chalk to go the second-best route.

Remember this is my current exposure, and it is definitely subject to change.