🥊 Inside the Octagon: UFC DFS Breakdown + Analysis | UFC Vegas 19 | Curtis Blaydes vs. Derrick Lewis

Welcome to Inside the Octagon, UFC fans. This weekend we have a 15-fight card in Las Vegas including a main event between Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis. The main GPP has $100,000 going to first place, with a total of $400,000 being paid out. Here I will offer the fights I feel have the most upside for DFS purposes. Let’s dig into some UFC DFS picks for UFC Vegas 19: Blaydes vs. Lewis.

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MMA DFS: UFC Vegas 19 Blaydes vs. Lewis

Andrei Arlovski $7,000 vs. Tom Aspinall $9,200

Andrei Arlovski

  • Age: 42
  • Height: 6-foot-2
  • Weight: 240 lbs.
  • Reach: 77 ins.
  • Record: 30-19-0
  • Striking Accuracy: 42%
  • Betting Odds: +200

Arlovski was at one time one of the most feared fighters in the heavyweight division. He held the UFC Heavyweight championship briefly in 2005. Arlovski is still an extremely dangerous striker with big power in his hands. However, his explosiveness and athleticism have slowed tremendously over the years. He has 17 wins via knockout, three via submission and 10 via decision. Arlovski will look to get this fight to the canvas in hopes of avoiding the tremendous power Aspinall possess. Although, taking Aspinall down could cause problems for Arlovski given the dangerous jiu-jitsu that Aspinall has in his arsenal.

Tom Aspinall

  • Age: 32
  • Height: 6-foot-4
  • Weight: 256 lbs.
  • Reach: 77 ins.
  • Record: 9-2-0
  • Striking Accuracy: 63%
  • Betting Odds: -250

Aspinall made quick work of Jake Collier, finishing him in 45 seconds. In his next bout, he finished Alan Baudot in 1:35. He is a solid striker with huge power, and though he is a black belt in jiu-jitsu, he has yet to use it in his UFC career. Aspinall’s ground-and-pound is extremely dangerous, which can finish his opponents in a hurry. In fact, all of Aspinall’s win have come in the first round inside of 2 minutes.

My preferred play on DraftKings and FanDuel is Aspinall. He will use his heavy hands to test Arlovski’s chin early and often.

UFC DFS Pick: Tom Aspinall via First-Round KO/TKO.

Phil Hawes $8,200 vs. Nassourdine Imavov $8,000

Phil Hawes

  • Age: 32
  • Height: 6-foot-0
  • Weight: 185 lbs.
  • Reach: 77.5 ins
  • Record: 9-020
  • Striking Accuracy: 49%
  • Betting Odds: -125

Hawes is coming into this matchup on a five-fight winning streak, and his last five fights ended with first-round finishes. He has seven wins via knockout, two via submission and an impressive seven first-round finishes. Hawes will look to keep this fight standing while looking to use his striking to keep Imavov at distance. If Hawes finds his range and keeps this fight standing, he could get a knockout.

Nassourdine Imavov

  • Age: 25
  • Height: 6-foot-2
  • Weight: 185 lbs.
  • Reach: 75 ins
  • Record: 9-2-0
  • Striking Accuracy: 49%
  • Betting Odds: +105

Imavov is coming into this matchup off of a decision win against Jordan Williams back in October 2020. He is on a six-fight winning streak, although his most recent fight against Williams was his only UFC fight. Imavov has three wins via knockout, four via submission and two via decision. He is a solid grappler and will look to take this fight to the canvas to secure a submission win. However, Hawes’ takedown defense will prevail in this fight.

My preferred play on DraftKings and FanDuel is Hawes. He is going to be aggressive and push the pace while looking to avoid the takedown attempts of Imavov.

UFC DFS Pick: Phil Hawes via Second-Round KO/TKO.


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Aleksei Oleinik $7,600 vs. Chris Daukaus $8,600

Aleksei Oleinik

  • Age: 43
  • Height: 6-foot-2
  • Weight: 240 lbs.
  • Reach: 80 ins.
  • Record: 59-14-1
  • Striking Accuracy: 51%
  • Betting Odds: +160

Oleinik last fought in August 2020, when he suffered a second-round knockout loss to Derrick Lewis. He will be in search of win No. 60 while looking to keep defying Father Time in this fight. Oleinik has been a pro since 1996, making him the more experienced fighter in this matchup. However, Chris Daukaus will be looking to make a statement with a win over a long-time veteran of the sport. Oleinik has eight wins via knockout, 46 via submission and five via decision. Oleinik will look to get this fight to the canvas in an attempt to avoid the power and hand speed of Daukaus.

Chris Daukaus

  • Age: 31
  • Height: 6-foot-2
  • Weight: 250 lbs.
  • Reach: 76 ins.
  • Record: 10-3-0
  • Striking Accuracy: 62%
  • Betting Odds: =190

Daukaus is coming into this matchup with strong confidence after back-to-back knockout wins over Parker Porter and Rodrigo Nascimento. However, Oleinik will be Daukaus’ biggest test yet in his UFC career. Daukaus has nine wins via knockout and one win via decision. He will look to avoid going to the canvas with Oleinik while trying to inflict damage with his power and hand speed.

My lean on DraftKings and FanDuel is Daukaus. However, the experience of Oleinik could prevail and seal his 60th victory. That said, Daukaus’ power will test Oleinik’s chin early.

UFC DFS Pick: Chris Daukaus via Second-Round KO/TKO.

Curtis Blaydes $9,400 vs. Derrick Lewis $6,800

Curtis Blaydes

  • Age: 29
  • Height: 6-foot-3
  • Weight: 265 lbs.
  • Reach: 80 ins.
  • Record: 14-2-0
  • Striking Accuracy: 51%
  • Betting Odds: -450

Blaydes is an extremely explosive athlete. He is coming into this matchup off an impressive unanimous decision win against Alexander Volkov in June 2020. He holds the record for most takedowns in a fight in the UFC, landing an astonishing 14. Blaydes is a National Junior College HWT National Champion and a NJCAA All-American. He throws heavy punches with big power and has devastating ground-and-pound when the fight hits the canvas. Blaydes he has 10 wins via knockouts and four decisions. Blaydes will look to use his wrestling and dangerous ground-and-pound to finish Lewis.

Derrick Lewis

  • Age: 36
  • Height: 6-foot-2
  • Weight: 260 lbs.
  • Reach: 79 ins.
  • Record:24-7-0
  • Striking Accuracy: 53%
  • Betting Odds: +340

Lewis is extremely athletic for a heavyweight and looks to be in the best shape of his professional career. Over his run in the UFC, Lewis has done well avoiding submissions, only being submitted once in his title fight against Daniel Cormier. Lewis has 19 wins via knockout, one via submission and two via decision. He will look to avoid going to the canvas with an elite wrestler like Blaydes. Furthermore, Lewis’ takedown defense is 52%, and it will be extremely tough for Lewis to stuff all of Blaydes’ takedown attempts.

My preferred play on DraftKings and FanDuel is Blaydes. Blaydes should test Lewis’ cardio early and often with his takedowns and wrestling while inflicting damage on the canvas with his nasty ground-and-pound.

UFC DFS Pick: Curtis Blaydes via Third-Round KO/TKO.


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