The UFC returns this Saturday with a massive pay-per-view event from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas – UFC 266: Volkanovski vs Ortega. We’re getting two title fights, plus a rematch 17-years in the making. However, when making my UFC 266 picks for my predictions column, I turned out picking nothing but favorites. Which made it tough to come up with a UFC 266 DraftKings roster under the salary limit. After swapping some pieces around and making some concessions, I think I’ve come up with a winning lineup for us.
RELATED
UFC 266 Betting Guide
UFC 266 DraftKings Roster
Merab Dvalishvili – $8,900
Let’s begin with Merab Dvalishvili, my most expensive addition to my lineup this week. ‘The Machine’ has been just that in the cage, averaging a huge 111.5 fantasy points per fight, including a run of four fights in a row where he put up between 124 and 148 points. Nice. He’s fighting Marlon Moraes on Saturday, a fighter who has been TKO’d in his past two fights and looks like he’s well past his prime. I like Dvalishvili to go for triple digits again this weekend.
Chris Daukaus – $8,800
I’m also really liking having Chris Daukaus on my UFC 266 DraftKings roster. He’s been unstoppable through his first three UFC fights, finishing all his opponents via strikes. This has earned him an average FPPF of 124.2 points, which includes his second octagon appearance where he posted 141. He should be able to finish off Saturday’s opponent Shamil Abdurakhimov, and maybe early.
Alexander Volkanovski – $8,600
Let’s head to the main event and pick up UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski. Alexander ‘The Great’ has only lost once in his pro career, and that was in his fourth pro fight way back in 2013. He’s crushed everyone the UFC has put in front of him, earning his DraftKings owners plenty of big-point performances (he averages 104.7). Saturday’s opponent Brian Ortega shouldn’t have an answer for him.
Uros Medic – $8,400
Now we come to the second-highest FPPF earner on this card, after only Daukaus, in Uros ‘The Doctor’ Medic. Sure, he’s only fought once in the UFC, but in that debut fight he put up a 122 point performance. Not too shabby. There’s a good chance the undefeated ‘Doctor’ puts this week’s opponent, Jalin Turner, out without the use of anesthesia.
Robbie Lawler – $8,300
Robbie Lawler has not looked good in the octagon for quite a long while, however, his opponent on Saturday, Nick Diaz, hasn’t even fought since 2015. Or won since 2011. Plus, Diaz last minute has had this fight moved from welterweight to middleweight, and looks a little out of shape in recent training footage. I think Lawler, after a 17-year wait, avenges his knockout loss to Diaz at UFC 47.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik – $7,000
Here’s my compromise pickup. I think Curtis Blaydes is going to beat Jairzinho Rozenstruik on Saturday night. However, for this cheap price and the amount of power ‘Bigi Boy’ carries in his hands, I think he’s worth a flyer based on the very reasonable chance he puts Blaydes’s lights out.
Listen to this:
UFC 266 Betting Guide (Chunky Days Are Here Again) | MMA Gambling Podcast (Ep.75)
Make sure to visit our odds page for up-to-the-minute lines from various books!
