Coby Williams 
I’ll be focusing on my core plays for the 3/14 Tournament for DFS MMA. This is focus around DraftKings ONLY because I HATE FanDuel right now and not ashamed of it. I’ll go fight by fight.
Kunchenko vs. dos Santos – 3/14 DFS
Kunchenko – $7,800 – He hasn’t had many tough battles and this is really his first real test. We don’t know what to expect with this guy, but he has showed some talent. You don’t have a 20-1 record for nothing, but for him, he’s faced a ton of garbage. He’s lucky he doesn’t have the Brazil home crowd against him, but he’s still going against a tough Brazilian opponent in dos Santos. His grappling and striking isn’t as good as dos Santos.
Zaleski dos Santos – $8,400 – Better grappling and striking game than Kuchenko like I said before. He’s got toughness and sharp striking and is my call to win this fight.
Javi’s Pick – dos Santos
Javi’s Thoughts – Tough fight to project. Could be a GPP play, but might avoid this fight in my DFS lineups.
Krylov vs. Walker – 3/14 DFS
Walker – $8,600 – Notorious for lots of first rounds wins, which is what we want in MMA as it provides the most points via first round wins, but he’s been getting a taste of his own medicine. I honestly think he comes into this match pissed and comes out strong, but he’s also been in the talks of being very overrated. He is 17-4 with 14 Knock Outs and some very high upside. More and more are betting on Krylov and because of this, I like Walker. He’s going to come out strong and potentially get the first win after losing in round 1 the last time out.
Krylov – $7,600 – Probably more well rounded than Walker and not new to this with a 26-7 record and I don’t hate choosing him over Walker, but Walker is going out with more to prove then Krylov.
Javi’s Pick – Walker
Javi’s Thoughts – Tough fight to pick as well, but I think it ends in round 1 for either one of these guys. You need this fight in your builds. I have EIGHT lineups tomorrow. I will have 4 of each in my 8 lines. AMEN!
Formiga vs. Moreno – 3/14 DFS
Formiga – $8,800 – This is actually the one fight I’m very confident in and it’s because of Formiga. He’s the better grappler, the better ground game, and the better overall fighter. He’s a LOCK for me
Moreno – $7,400 – Honestly, his 16-5 record doesn’t really show you how he really is, which is an overrated fighter that isn’t very good. I sense Formiga gets his submission versus Moreno in round 1. If Moreno is on the ground, it’s guaranteed over.
Javi’s Pick – Formiga
Javi’s Thoughts – Lock in Formiga for your CAPTAIN spot on FD and on your DK lines. If you’re doing 5 lines, leave Formiga out of 1-2. If you’re doing 3 lines, do 1 without Formiga.
Markos vs. Ribas – 3/14 DFS
Ribas – $9,300 – These women fights are super tricky because I always feel a high priced woman loses at least once per slate. I think this could be on the one. Ribas is in OK form and is a solid fighter, but super overpriced.
Markos – $6,900 – Markos is a weird fighter and her 10-8 record shows it. Markos has only been finished off ONCE and this makes for an interesting salary saver. She won’t go out easy and I think she can go the distance or even win this match.
Javi’s Pick – Ribas?
Javi’s Thoughts – Tough fight to project. Might be a fade for me and i definitely won’t be on Ribas. Like Markos more in this spot.
Barzola vs. Yahya – 3/14 DFS
Barzola – $8,700 – Younger, faster than his opponent, but usually winning by decision. Because of this , he lacks upside. He will be able to last long, but he’s not really a first round knockout kind of guy.
Yahya – $7,500 – He’s an older and slower fight and I believe he gets ran over by Barzola. Yahya is mainly a win by submission kind of guy and I don’t think he will have the chance. He will tire out and I think this will make him lose outright. Ride the safer play of Barzola.
Javi’s Pick – Barzola, but this fight will be a snooze
Javi’s Thoughts – FADE. I mean you’re more than welcome to get Barzola, who should win, but he won’t be a first round win and because of this, he lacks upside and big points.
Macedo vs. Malecki – 3/14 DFS
Macedo – $9,100 – 1-3 in her last 4 fights and she’s priced this high? This fight is gross and is usually a winner by submission. I’m fading this fight because it’s gross.
Malecki – $7,100 – Actually has more reach and weight behind her, but a sloppy fighter.
Javi’s Pick – Macedo?
Javi’s Thoughts – FADE. No thanks
Trinaldo vs. Makdessi – 3/14 DFS
Trinaldo – $8,900- He’s 42 years old and I want to start off and point out that I don’t like that at all. He’s slower and can get gassed easily. He’s considered one of the seasoned vets. He will definitely be hoping to take this to a decision as he’s just an older guy trying to get paid and finish the fight. Not really known for his knock outs and I’m not a fan of his opponent because Trinaldo really doesn’t like to get knocked out.
Makdessi – $7,300 – Younger, stronger, faster and an underdog. That being said, I’m taking him in this fight. Unfortunately, I think it goes to decision, which limits his upside, but at his price, a win by decision is OK. He is actually known for KO’s, but it will be tough to knock out Trinaldo , who isn’t known for this.
Javi’s Pick – Makdessi
Javi’s Thoughts – Makdessi is probably my FAVORITE salary saver so lock him in!
Lee vs. Oliveira – 3/14 DFS
Lee – $8,300 – Now we come to our most difficult decision. This fight is very, very TOUGH to predict. I think it doesn’t really last more than a round and it could go either way. He has terrible conditioning, which has made him vulnerable. This is a five round fight and it’s might go the distance. Lee is the better fighter for this fight, but if it goes past 2 rounds, he’s toast.
Oliveira – $7,900 – Known as a submission guy mainly who is also a seasoned vet with a 28-8 record. As I mentioned, if it goes the distance, Oliveira might come down with the W, but he can also make a sloppy and unconditioned Lee submit very easily.
Javi’s Pick – Oliveira
Javi’s Thoughts – I choose Oliviera because of price and that’s mainly it. I think it goes all 5 rounds so either fighter works, but I might fade this fight all together. It’s too risky
Burns vs. Maia – 3/14 DFS
Burns – $9,000 – Elite grappler who has solid power and should easily overcome the old man. I think he has a good shot at a round 1 submission so I like his upside a TON.
Maia – $7,200 – He’s another old guy. I don’t think he last long in this fight and could go by submission. I wouldnt be surpised if he gets knocked out as well. He is in bad form as of late. Sorry old man!
Javi’s Pick – Burns
Javi’s Thoughts – One of my favorite picks of the night. Lock in Burns.
Dvorak vs. Silva – 3/14 DFS
Dvorak – $8,000 – An 0-0 guy always gives me the jeepers creepers, but he’s really 17-3 with 8 knockouts. I was on a fade for this fight and leaning Silva until I got some insider info (a few buddies haha) who said to look into Dvorak and bet on him. He’s more powerful than Silver and he comes with heavy damage to whoever he fights.
Silva – $8,200 – Pretty even fight with Silva, who is more polished than Dvorak. The problem here is if Silva wins , it’ll be because he lasted the entire fight with maybe a late submission.
Javi’s Pick – Dvorak – Going with the friends!
Javi’s Thoughts – More of a GPP fight because it goes either way. Mostly a fade for me
Bueno Silva vs. Moroz – 3/14 DFS
Bueno Silva – $8,500 – 5-0 record with a heavy submission resume. Unfortunately, I’m not liking this match as much because of the lack of home field advantage. Moroz isn’t someone who is known for submitting so I do worry about this, but Bueno Silva is undefeated for a reason. Either way, I’m probably fading this fight.
Moroz – $7,700 – She has a real shot at winning this fight, but I think it may go the distance and it’ll be a snoozefest kind of fight.
Javi’s Pick – Bueno Silva
Javi’s Thoughts – Fade this match
Hadzovic vs. Moicano – 3/14 DFS
Hadzovic – $6,800 – Here we are. The final fight and my first MMA article. Honestly, he needs a knockout to win this most likely and half his wins are from knockout. I honestly think he has a shot at winning this in the first round or if it goes the distance. It’s no easy task versus a tough opponent like Moicano.
Moicano – $9,400 – High volume striker who is also an overall more polished fighter, who should take care of Hadzovic. He has a shot at knockout, but it could go the distance.
Javi’s Pick – Moicano
Javi’s Thoughts – I like both fighters in this fight and I think this match has a shot at going either way. What I’m going to do is hedge everything and go half and half on these guys. Probably use in 4 of my lineups and do 2 of each.
With MMA DFS, I recommend you LEAVE MONEY ON THE TABLE. Leave $500+ and be different and win the $50k (if I don’t)
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