This article is part of our Drake's Takes series.
The top MMA betting and DFS plays for this weekend's UFC 297card are up and courtesy of Drake Burden, who breaks down betting and lineup strategy, as well as offers predictions for the entire event.
Malcolm Gordon (14-7-0) v. Jimmy Flick (16-7-0)
Malcolm Gordon - Height: 5'7" - Reach: 71" - Switch
~ Low volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 11 finishes in 14 wins
Jimmy Flick - Height: 5'7" - Reach: 68" – Orthodox
~ Low volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 14 finishes in 16 wins
DFS Perspective: This would not be my option to start the night out, but here we are. Neither guy has performed exceptionally well in their UFC stints. However, a pick must be made. Flick is a one-trick pony -- find and lock in a submission. Gordon is not a great fighter, but he is more well-rounded. His best option is to keep this on the feet and give Flick his seventh knockout loss. Someone will be finished early in this one, making it a solid fight to target for GPP contests.
UFC 297 Pick: Gordon
Jasmine Jasudavicius (9-3-0) v. Priscila Cachoeira (12-5-0)
Jasmine Jasudavicius - Height: 5'7" - Reach: 68" - Orthodox
~ Moderate volume
~ Plus wrestling
~ 3 finishes in 9 wins
Priscila Cachoeira - Height: 5'7" - Reach: 65" – Orthodox
~ Moderate volume
~ Minimal wrestling/grappling
~ 7 finishes in 12 wins
DFS Perspective: Cachoeira is another one-trick pony in that she is a pure striker constantly looking for the knockout. Jasudavicius is more well-rounded, with decent striking and excellent wrestling. I expect this to be close, but for Jasudavicius to avoid the knockout and keep control on the mat with her wrestling. She will be a sneaky DFS play if she chains takedowns.
UFC 297 Pick: Jasudavicius
Yohan Lainesse (9-2-0) v. Sam Patterson (10-2-1)
Yohan Lainesse - Height: 6'1" - Reach: 76" - Orthodox
~ Low volume
~ Minimal wrestling/grappling
~ 6 finishes in 9 wins
Sam Patterson - Height: 6'3" - Reach: 78" – Orthodox
~ Low volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 9 finishes in 10 wins
DFS Perspective: Lainesse was submitted last time out, moving to 1-2 in the UFC. Patterson was demolished in his debut, getting knocked out in 75 seconds. Patterson can bring excitement to fights but is not a high-level talent. I expect Lainesse to have the edge everywhere and end this one early.
UFC 297 Pick: Lainesse
Gillian Robertson (12-8-0) v. Polyana Viana (13-6-0)
Gillian Robertson - Height: 5'5" - Reach: 63" - Orthodox
~ Low volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 10 finishes in 12 wins
Polyana Viana - Height: 5'5" - Reach: 67" – Orthodox
~ Moderate volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 13 finishes in 13 wins
DFS Perspective: This is a tough fight to call. This should feature heavy grappling, and either woman could lock up a submission. Viana will have a significant edge on the feet if she can keep it there. However, both ladies have struggled with takedown defense, and whoever gets the first could end it there. It is close, but I expect Viana's striking to be the difference. This likely ends as a low-scoring fight for DFS without an early first or second-round finish.
UFC 297 Pick: Viana
Serhiy Sidey (10-1-0) v. Ramon Taveras (9-2-0)
Serhiy Sidey - Height: 5'11" - Reach: 72" - Switch
~ Moderate volume
~ Minimal wrestling/grappling
~ 8 finishes in 10 wins
Ramon Taveras - Height: 5'8" - Reach: 70" – Southpaw
~ High volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 8 finishes in 9 wins
DFS Perspective: Both fighters are making their UFC debuts, and this will be a rematch from their Contender Series fight. Unless Taveras gets this to the mat, I expect a similar result. Sidey has a considerable edge on the feet and has the power to stop this early again. Rematches bring odd results, so I would only play this in GPP contests.
UFC 297 Pick: Sidey
Charles Jourdain (15-6-1) v. Sean Woodson (10-1-1)
Charles Jourdain - Height: 5'9" - Reach: 69" - Switch
~ High volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 13 finishes in 15 wins
Sean Woodson - Height: 6'2" - Reach: 78" – Orthodox
~ High volume
~ Plus wrestling
~ 4 finishes in 10 wins
DFS Perspective: Jourdain is one of the toughest fighters in the UFC and is currently riding a two-fight winning streak. Woodson is 4-1-1 in the UFC, with his only loss coming in 2020, and was dominant in his most recent fight. Jourdain will have a slight edge on the feet, while Woodson will have a considerable edge on the mat. I expect Woodson to keep the striking close and eventually get this to the mat, taking advantage of Jourdain's poor takedown defense and earning the upset win. Woodson is one of my favorite dogs on the card and a great play for DFS contests.
UFC 297 Pick: Woodson
Brad Katona (13-2-0) v. Garrett Armfield (9-3-0)
Brad Katona - Height: 5'6" - Reach: 64" - Orthodox
~ Moderate volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 4 finishes in 13 wins
Garrett Armfield - Height: 5'6" - Reach: 70" – Orthodox
~ High volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 8 finishes in 9 wins
DFS Perspective: Katona returned to the UFC with an explosive win and moved his record to 2-2. Armfield recorded his first UFC victory last time out, moving to 1-1 in his start with the company. Armfield will have his chances in this fight, but I expect Katona to be better everywhere and win unanimously.
UFC 297 Pick: Katona
Arnold Allen (19-2-0) v. Movsar Evloev (17-0-0)
Arnold Allen - Height: 5'8" - Reach: 70" - Southpaw
~ Moderate volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 11 finishes in 19 wins
Movsar Evloev - Height: 5'7" - Reach: 72" – Orthodox
~ Moderate volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 7 finishes in 17 wins
DFS Perspective: Allen will have his chances on the feet and likely has the edge in volume and power. Evloev is a solid striker and an elite grappler who will have a significant edge on the mat. This will be his toughest test to date, but I expect him to come through again, recording another high score for DFS purposes.
UFC 297 Pick: Evloev
Chris Curtis (30-10-0) v. Marc-Andre Barriault (16-6-0)
Chris Curtis - Height: 5'10" - Reach: 75" - Orthodox
~ High volume
~ Minimal wrestling/grappling
~ 18 finishes in 30 wins
Marc-Andre Barriault - Height: 6'1" - Reach: 74" – Orthodox
~ High volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 11 finishes in 16 wins
DFS Perspective: This will be a striker's delight that likely ends early. Both fighters throw high volume, and while Barriault tends to take bigger hits, Curtis sustains more strikes per minute. Barriault also can get this to the mat and wrestle if he chooses. I expect this to be close, and if it comes to the judges, a split decision is absolutely possible.
UFC 297 Pick: Barriault
Neil Magny (28-11-0) v. Mike Malott (10-1-1)
Neil Magny - Height: 6'3" - Reach: 80" - Orthodox
~ Low volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 11 finishes in 28 wins
Mike Malott - Height: 6'1" - Reach: 73" – Orthodox
~ Moderate volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 10 finishes in 10 wins
DFS Perspective: The division gatekeeper, Magny, is welcoming another up-and-coming fighter in, Mike Malott. Magny has rotated wins and losses, going 2-3 in his last five fights, while Malott is sitting at 3-0 in the UFC. Malott should be better everywhere and likely ends this early. He is one of the safest and best plays for DFS contests.
UFC 297 Pick: Malott
Raquel Pennington (15-8-0) v. Mayra Bueno Silva (10-2-1)
Raquel Pennington - Height: 5'7" - Reach: 67" - Orthodox
~ Moderate volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 5 finishes in 15 wins
Mayra Bueno Silva - Height: 5'6" - Reach: 66" – Orthodox
~ Moderate volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 8 finishes in 10 wins
DFS Perspective: Pennington has seen a revival in her career, winning five in a row. Bueno Silva had won her fourth in a row before her most recent win was overturned into a no-contest. While Pennington's renaissance is impressive, Bueno Silva should be better everywhere, particularly on the mat. She should make quick work of Pennington and potentially submit her early.
UFC 297 Pick: Bueno Silva
Sean Strickland (28-5-0) v. Dricus Du Plessis (20-2-0)
Sean Strickland - Height: 6'1" - Reach: 76" - Orthodox
~ High volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 15 finishes in 28 wins
Dricus Du Plessis - Height: 6'1" - Reach: 76" – Switch
~ High volume
~ Plus wrestling/grappling
~ 19 finishes in 20 wins
DFS Perspective: The main event title fight should be an absolute banger. Strickland is riding a three-fight winning streak, including his most recent fight when he won the belt in dominant fashion. His first title defense comes against du Plessis, who has crushed his way through six consecutive UFC fights, the most recent being the most impressive against an elite fighter. Strickland will have an edge with technical striking and cardio, but I would give Du Plessis the advantage everywhere else. This fight should feature a lot of dirty boxing, trash talk and excitement. This will be a must-have fight for the winning side in DFS contests. I expect Du Plessis to raise the belt by finish.
UFC 297 Pick: Du Plessis
For more MMA DFS-specific content, check out our UFC 297 DraftKings preview, or test your favorite combinations of fighters on our DFS MMA Lineup Optimizer.
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FANDUEL MMA SCORING
Moves Scoring
Significant Strikes = 0.6 pts
Takedown = 6 pts
Takedown Defense = 3 pts
Knockdown = 12 pts
Submission Attempt = 5 pts
Fight Conclusion Bonuses
1st Round Win = 100 pts
2nd Round Win = 75 pts
3rd Round Win = 50 pts
4th Round Win = 35 pts
5th Round Win = 25 pts
Decision Win = 20 pts
Scoring Notes
- Significant Strikes are distance strikes or clinch/ground strikes that are considered "power strikes" by official scorers.
- A knockdown is awarded to a fighter who knocks his/her opponent down due to debilitation for what the official scorers consider a substantial time.
DRAFTKINGS MMA SCORING
Moves Scoring
Strikes: +0.2 pts
Significant Strikes (SS): +0.2 pts
Control Time: +0.03 pts/Second
Takedown (TD): +5 pts
Reversal/Sweep (REV): +5 pts
Knockdown (KD): +10 pts
Fight Conclusion Bonuses
1st Round Win (1rW+): +90 pts
2nd Round Win (2rW+): +70 pts
3rd Round Win (3rW+): +45 pts
4th Round Win (4rW+): +40 pts
5th Round Win (5rW+): +40 pts
Decision Win (WBD+): +30 pts
Quick Win Bonus: +25 pts
(fight is finished in 60 seconds or less)
Scoring Notes
- Significant Strikes are any distance strikes or clinch/ground strikes that are considered "power strikes" by official scorers.
- A Significant Strike will count as both a strike and a significant strike and will be worth a total of 0.4 pts.
- Control Time is the time spent in the dominant position on the ground or in the clinch. +0.03 points are awarded per second.
- A Knockdown is awarded to a fighter who knocks his/her opponent down due to debilitation for what the official scorers consider an appreciable time.
- A Quick Win Bonus is awarded to the winning fighter if they win in the first round in 60 seconds or less.
