UFC 303 DFS Picks
There are two mainstays to play DFS for MMA; DraftKings and FanDuel. Each has its own scoring rules and variations, but they are similar. Here are DraftKings’ scoring rules and FanDuel’s scoring rules. I will always list fighters I think should be selected as MVP at the top and will use DraftKings budget to model my projections. Read below for UFC Saudi Arabia DFS picks.
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MVP Pick
Joe Pyfer $9,000
Joe Pyfer is fighting Marc-Andre Barriault in the featured prelim matchup. Pyfer may be getting slept on as one of the better prospects on this card, and I expect him to remind the fans how good he is.
He lost to Jack Hermansson last time out, and he got outclassed. Hermansson is one of the best middleweight fighters in the world. Barriault lost to Chris Curtis in his most recent fight, but it was close. Pyfer is 27, getting better, and hungry for another victory. He should get the job done and could wrestle more.
Other Picks
Gillian Robertson $8,700
The women’s strawweight division is typically known for most fights going the distance, but Robertson is an outlier. She has only gone the distance five times in her 16 UFC fights and won via decision once. Robertson is fighting Michelle Waterson-Gomez, who is a veteran on a losing streak. She has dropped four consecutive fights and could be on the way out at 38. Robertson is a -185 favorite and +240 to win by submission, which is how she has won seven UFC fights.
Alex Pereira $8,500
The main event is a rematch between Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka. Pereira won via second-round knockout in 2023, but Prochazka had several big moments in the fight.
Prochazka bounced back from that loss with a win over Aleksandar Rakic. He was likely losing that fight before landing 53 significant strikes in the second round after taking a lot of damage prior. The problem with his style is his lack of defense. Pereira should land clean, powerful shots that Prochazka cannot tank through.
Charles Jourdain $8,300
Charles Jourdain is fighting Jean Silva in the prelims, and the fight is a coin flip. Jourdain is typically a slow starter but always ramps it up, especially in the third round.
He also has significantly more experience than Silva, with 13 UFC fights compared to one for Silva. This fight should be as close as the odds suggest, but I expect Jourdain’s experience to shine through in the last round and might be able to find a submission.
Brian Ortega $7,800
The co-main event is a highly anticipated matchup between Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes. Lopes burst onto the scene with three consecutive first-round finishes following two losses to start his UFC career.
He struggled to get up from a takedown in those two fights and got controlled for about eight minutes in each of his losses. Ortega has good enough wrestling to land takedowns, but he must remain patient, as Lopes will be hard to submit. Ortega controlled Yair Rodriguez for over five minutes in his most recent fight before securing an arm triangle in the third round.
Cub Swanson $7,600
Cub Swanson is 40 but still has something left in the tank. He is taking on Andre Fili, who has been in his fair share of wars. I expect this fight to be a dog fight for all three rounds. Swanson is +190 on DraftKings, which is too wide based on recent performances. He has won four of six fights and narrowly beat Hakeem Dawodu.
Swanson should enter this fight motivated because it could be his last fight, as his career is nearing an end. He will do everything possible to get his hand raised in this coin-flip fight.
