DraftKings MMA: UFC Fight Night 73 Preview

DraftKings MMA: UFC Fight Night 73 Preview

In Saturday's main event, a former light heavyweight title challenger takes on a young up-and-comer who is fighting in front of the hometown fans for the first time in his UFC career.

If you're hoping to turn the event into an opportunity to build your DFS bankroll, DraftKings.com has you covered with a full slate of contests. Players get a $50,000 budget to select five fighters, and the scoring is distributed as follows:

Moves Scoring
Significant Strikes (SS): +0.5 PTS
Advance (ADVC): +1 PT
Takedown (TD): +2 PTS
Reversal/Sweep (REV): +2 PTS
Knockdown (KD): +3 PTS

Fight Conclusion Bonuses
1st Round Win (1rW+): +100 PTS
2nd Round Win (2rW+): +70 PTS
3rd Round Win (3rW+): +50 PTS
4th Round Win (4rW+): +40 PTS
5th Round Win (5rW+): +40 PTS
Decision Win (WBD+): +25 PTS

Scoring Notes
Significant Strikes are any Distance Strike or Clinch/Ground Strikes that are considered "Power Strikes" by official scorers.

Advances include: To Half Guard, To Side Control, To Mount, To Back Control

Now, on to the fights.

Main Event – Light Heavyweight

Glover Teixeira (22-4-0) v. Ovince St. Preux (18-6-0)
DraftKings Salaries: Teixeira ($9,900), St. Preux ($9,500)
Vegas Odds: Teixeira (-120), St. Preux (+100)

Teixeira is in need of a bounce back performance in the worst way. He challenged Jon Jones for the light heavyweight championship in April 2014 and he was dominated in a unanimous decision loss. In his next and most recent fight, Teixeira was once again manhandled in another unanimous decision loss, this time to Phil Davis. Not only was Teixeira dominated on the feet in both contests, he gave up a whopping 12 takedowns in the two fights combined. OSP is 6-1 since debuting in the UFC in April 2013, with his only loss coming against the suddenly resurgent Ryan Bader. He didn't look great in his last fight against Patrick Cummins (a card I attended in person), but he landed a short shot with 25 seconds left in round one and got the stop with just 17 seconds left in the first round. OSP has definitely shown some inconsistencies during his time in the UFC, but I'm more worried about Teixeira. His trademark power has seemingly disappeared. It's a bit hard to believe, but Glover is already 35 years old. He made his UFC debut in May 2006. Teixeira's takedown defense has been exceptionally awful lately and I think OSP can and will take advantage of that. St. Preux is also a much better athlete and he's fighting in front of his hometown crowd. I wouldn't be shocked of Teixeira won, but OSP is my pick here.
THE PICK: St. Preux

Co-Main Event – Lightweight

Michael Johnson (17-8-0) v. Beneil Dariush (11-1-0)
DraftKings Salaries: : Johnson ($10,200), Dariush ($9,200)
Vegas Odds: Johnson (-155), Dariush (+135)

To say that this is a matchup of two guys with contrasting styles would be a gross understatement. Johnson's game is based on his aggressiveness. He throws a ton of strikes and he's always moving forward. Dariush's game is, well, boring. Boring, but effective. Dariush does he best work by physically manhandling his opponents – whether it be on the ground or along the fence. Dariush easily defeated the talented Jim Miller via unanimous decision in his last fight in April by controlling him on the ground. It wasn't entertaining to watch, but it was effective for Dariush. Johnson and Dariush have both won four fights in a row, making this a highly-intriguing bout. Dariush is going to find himself in the top-10 of the UFC's lightweight division if he wins. I like Johnson here. I think his aggressive style combined with his underrated wrestling game will earn him the victory. That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to use Dariush to make the finances of my roster work.
THE PICK: Johnson

Middleweight

Derek Brunson (13-3-0) v. Sam Alvey (25-6-0, 1NC)
DraftKings Salaries: Brunson ($11,000), Alvey ($8,400)
Vegas Odds: Brunson ($11,000), Alvey ($8,400)

It's possible that Alvey has turned into my favorite fighter to watch. If you just look at Alvey, it appears that he has absolutely no athletic ability whatsoever. Yet all he does is knock people out. Alvey has picked up three straight first-round KO wins. He also has a terrific personality and he's extremely entertaining. Unfortunately for Alvey, Brunson is a serious step up in competition. Brunson is 4-1 in the UFC, with his only loss coming to top contender Yoel Romero. Brunson is very fast and a terrific athlete. He has a quality all-around game and he's a former three-time Division III All-American wrestler. Look, I like Alvey. More Sam Alvey wins and post-fight interviews are good for business. With the power he's shown lately, I'm surprised his DK salary is so low. But I can't pick him to win this one. I think he's just giving away too much athletically here. .
THE PICK: Brunson

Heavyweight

Jared Rosholt (12-2-0) v. Timothy Johnson (9-1-0)
DraftKings Salaries: Rosholt ($10,700), Johnson ($8,700)
Vegas Odds: Rosholt (-230), Johnson (+190)

Johnson made his UFC debut in April and he earned a performance of the night bonus for knocking out Shamil Abdurakhimov in the first round. He's a big, strong guy who has six career wins by KO and three by submission. Rosholt is 4-1 in his first five fights in the UFC, and has big power, but his trademark is his wrestling. During his time at Oklahoma State (which is one of the better wrestling programs in the country), Rosholt was a three-time All-American and the 2010 national runner up in wrestling. Johnson himself was a Division II All-American wrestler, but he's not on the level of Rosholt. As is the case in most every heavyweight bout, both of these guys have the power to knock out the other if they connect with a big shot. That being said, Rosholt should be the more technical fighter in this one. However, Johnson is in the same situation as many fighters on this card. That being, I don't think they'll win their respective fights, but their DK salaries are low enough that throwing them in your lineup and hoping they pull the upset isn't the worst move in the world.
THE PICK: Rosholt

Middleweight

Chris Camozzi (21-10-0) v. Tom Watson (17-8-0)
DraftKings Salaries: Camozzi ($10,300), Watson ($9,100)
Vegas Odds: Camozzi (-155), Watson (+135)

There are actually some pretty good fights on the undercard of this one, so it's kind of hard to understand why the UFC is putting Camozzi and Watson on the main card. Camozzi was released by the UFC after his fourth-straight loss in September 2014. He was signed back in April 2015 after he agreed to step in as a late replacement and take on Jacare Souza. He lasted roughly two and a half minutes before he was submitted. Overall, Camozzi has lost his last five UFC fights. Watson hasn't been much better. He's just 2-4 in the UFC since making his debut in September 2012. Both Camozzi and Watson rely heavily on their striking, but Camozzi should have a slight advantage on the mat. The bottom line is that neither of these guys are any good and if that's the case, you mine as well take a shot on the underdog.
THE PICK: Watson

Other Bouts

Flyweight

Ray Borg (8-1-0) v. Geane Herrera (8-0-0)
DraftKings Salaries: Borg ($11,300), Herrera ($8,100)
Vegas Odds: Borg (-450), Herrera (+360)
THE PICK: Borg

Middleweight

Urijah Hall (11-5-0) v. Oluwale Bamgbose (5-0-0)
DraftKings Salaries: Hall ($10,900), Bamgbose ($8,500)
Vegas Odds: Hall (-340), Bamgbose (+280)
THE PICK: Hall

Women's Bantamweight

Sara McMann (8-2-0) v. Amanda Nunes (10-4-0)
DraftKings Salaries: McMann ($10,600), Nunes ($8,800)
Vegas Odds: McMann (-240), Nunes (+200)
THE PICK: McMann

Flyweight

Dustin Ortiz (14-4-0) v. Willie Gates (12-5-0)
DraftKings Salaries: Ortiz ($11,200), Gates ($8,200)
Vegas Odds: Ortiz (-450), Gates (+360)
THE PICK: Ortiz (Although I think Gates is a REAL value play)

Bantamweight

Frankie Saenz (10-2-0) v. Sirwan Kakai (13-2-0)
DraftKings Salaries: Saenz ($10,100), Kakai ($9,300)
Vegas Odds: Saenz (-150), Kakai (+130)
THE PICK: Kakaira

Light Heavyweight

Chris Dempsey (11-2-0) v. Jonathan Wilson (6-0-0)
DraftKings Salaries: Dempsey ($9,000), Wilson ($10,400)
Vegas Odds: Dempsey (+150), Wilson (-170)
THE PICK: Wilson

Bantamweight

Marlon Vera (6-2-1) v. Roman Salazar (9-3-0, 1NC)
DraftKings Salaries: Vera ($10,000), Salazar ($9,400)
Vegas Odds: Vera (-125), Salazar (+105)
THE PICK: Vera

Lightweight

Anthony Christodoulou (12-5-0) v. Scott Holtzman (7-0-0)
DraftKings Salaries: Christodoulou ($8,000), Holtzman ($11,400)
Vegas Odds: Christodoulou (+525), Holtzman (-750)
THE PICK: Holtzman

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Jon Litterine plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: DraftKings: JLitterine.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jon Litterine
Jon Litterine is RotoWire's lead MMA Writer and MMA Editor. He has covered numerous MMA events live. He's also RW's NHL Prospect Analyst. Jon has been writing for RotoWire since 2005. He is a graduate of U Mass-Lowell.
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