Top DFS Plays for UFC Fight Night 200: Hermansson vs Strickland (2/5/22)
The UFC returns to Las Vegas for MMA action from the Apex Facility. Our analysis will take a deeper look at some of my favorite plays for DFS contests on Saturday.
Fighter to Build Your Lineups Around
PUNAHELE SORIANO (DK $8,600 / FD $18) – Since joining the UFC, Soriano is 2-1 with his only loss coming by decision to Brendan Allen in July of last year. This was his only professional defeat. In his first two fights with the UFC he scored consecutive first-round finishes. In that pair of victories, Soriano averaged 123.6 FPPF (DraftKings scoring). His opponent on Saturday is Nick Maximov who won by decision in his UFC debut. Nevertheless, Soriano is nearly a 2 to 1 favorite and has the 5th best odds of all fighters in Vegas for a finish on Saturday – despite being 8th in salary on Fanduel and 9th on DraftKings.
(At the time of this writing, Punahele Soriano is -192 with the oddsmakers and has a projected score of 65.29 on Fantasy Cruncher.)
Fighter with the Best Value
PHILIP ROWE (DK $8,400 / FD $16) – In his UFC debut, Rowe lost a competitive fight to Gabriel Green. A little over 5 months later, he rebounded with a second-round TKO of Orion Cosce where he scored 100.2 FP (DraftKings scoring). He now faces Jason Witt who is 2-2 in the UFC. Witt will give up 5 inches in height and 10.5 inches in reach to Rowe who is one of the tallest welterweights ever to take the octagon. Rowe has used his length to win 8 of his last 9 fights (all of his wins were finishes with 4 wins by KO/TKO and 4 wins by submission). Look for Rowe to dominate with his length and seek his 9th finish in 10 fights.
(At the time of this writing, Philip Rowe is -131 with the oddsmakers and has a pr0jected score of 61.14 on Fantasy Cruncher.)
Fighter with the Best Upset Potential
BRYAN BATTLE (DK $7,900 / FD $14) – Battle is 6-1 as a professional with his only loss coming in his second professional fight back in September of 2019. Since then, he has won 5 straight and has finishes in every fight over that span. In his octagon debut, he defeated Gilbert Urbina by second-round submission in August of 2021. He looks to upset Tresean Gore who will be fighting in just his fourth professional fight and his first with the UFC. Gore has two finishes as a professional and one win by split decision. Battle is the underdog in this one, but with his edge in height, reach, and experience he is a very live dog in this fight.
(At the time of this writing, Bryan Battle is +130 with the oddsmakers and has a projected score of 48.19 on Fantasy Cruncher.)
That’s all for this week. Good luck with your lineups!
