UFC DFS Picks Today: UFC 273 Volkanovski vs. Korean Zombie DraftKings Picks

The UFC is live at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., with an exciting featherweight main event for UFC 273: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Korean Zombie. Below is a full preview of the fights that have the most upside for UFC DFS purposes. Let’s dig into some UFC DFS picks for UFC 273, and some of the best DraftKings UFC predictions and FanDuel MMA lineups this weekend.

UFC 273 Volkanovski vs. Korean Zombie | MMA DFS Picks

Jairzinho Rozenstruik $8,600 vs. Marcin Tybura $7,600 (Canceled)

Age: 34
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 242 lbs.
Reach: 78 ins
Record: 12-3-0
Striking Accuracy: 51%
Betting Odds: -158

Rozenstruik is coming into this matchup off a disappointing decision loss to Curtis Blaydes in September. Prior to Rozenstruik, Blaydes was blazing through the competition until suffering a setback with a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou at UFC 249, but he rebounded with a second-round knockout win over Junior dos Santos at UFC 252 and a knockout over Augusto Sakai. Rozenstruik has 11 wins via knockout and one via decision. Prior to transitioning to MMA, Rozenstruik was a former professional kickboxer. Rozenstruik’s striking is where he does his best work, and he has one-punch knockout power. His counterstriking is on point, and Rozenstruik can finish his opponents in the blink of an eye. Rozenstruik may struggle with the Tybura’s high-pressure style and takedowns.

Marcin Tybura

Age: 36
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 249 lbs.
Reach: 78 ins
Record: 22-7-0
Striking Accuracy: 60%
Betting Odds: +128

Tybura is a well-rounded, tough fighter with a solid gas tank. He seems to do his best work when the fight hits the mat. Tybura will need to use front kicks to be able to close the distance while looking for the clinch. He will need to avoid the power of Rozenstruik and to get this fight to the mat early, changing levels and trying to get Rozenstruik off balance to drag him to the canvas. Tybura was riding a five-fight winning streak until he met Alexander Volkov in October, losing via decision.

The lean on DraftKings UFC picks and FanDuel MMA is Rozenstruik. However, this fight will be close and either fighter could get the finish. If Tybura can get this fight to the mat, then he can use his heavy pressure and solid wrestling to seal a decision.

UFC DFS Pick: Jairzinho Rozenstruik via Second-Round KO/TKO.

Ian Garry $9,200 vs. Darian Weeks $7,000

Ian Garry

Age: 24
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 170 lbs.
Reach: 74.5 ins.
Record: 8-0-0
Striking Accuracy: 69%
Betting Odds: -385

Garry entered the UFC with big hype because of his dangerous ground and pound that highlights his outstanding wrestling. He is extremely crafty at throwing hidden leg and head kicks, which opponents never see coming. Furthermore, his wrestling is well rounded and fundamentally sound, and if Garry wants to take the fight to the canvas, his opponents have a difficult time stopping him. Garry learned a valuable lesson in his UFC debut, when standing and trading almost cost him the victory. Look for Garry to go back to his bread and butter with explosive kicks and shooting to get this fight to the mat early.

Darian Weeks

Age: 28
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 170 lbs.
Reach: 72 ins.
Record: 5-1-0
Striking Accuracy: 58%
Betting Odds: +290

Weeks could pose problems for Garry with his accurate striking and heavy volume. In Weeks’ debut he was able to clinch against the cage, using his dirty boxing and volume to cause issue for Bryan Barberena. However, that was still not enough to clinch the victory for Weeks, and Barberena poured it on in the closing minutes of Round 3 to seal a unanimous decision over Weeks. Weeks is well sized for the weight class and probably the more well-round striker, although Weeks will need solid takedown defense to have a shot against the crafty Garry in this fight.

Garry is top three in the UFC DFS projections for points, but Weeks is super dangerous on the feet with his high-pressure style and devastating power. If Weeks can avoid takedowns early and use the Octagon to his advantage, he could control Garry and find an early knockout. However, Garry will have a dominate performance and get back to his dangerous wrestling and devastating ground and pound.

UFC DFS Pick: Ian Garry via Second-Round Submission.

Gilbert Burns $6,800 vs. Khamzat Chimaev $9,400

Gilbert Burns

Age: 35
Height: 5-foot-8
Weight: 170 lbs.
Reach: 71 ins.
Record: 20-4-0
Striking Accuracy: 56%
Betting Odds: +360

Burns is coming into this matchup off a decision win over Stephen Thompson, and prior to this fight Burns had a disappointing knockout loss to current champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 258. Prior to the Usman fight, Burns was riding an impressive six-fight winning streak He is a grappling specialist, and he is a jiu-jitsu world champion. Burns has improved his striking under kickboxing coach Henri Hooft, and it showed in his last fight against Stephen Thompson. Burns has six wins via knockout, eight via submission and six via decision. He has solid power on the feet and has dropped fighters with his dangerous left hook countless times. Chimaev is on another level, and Burns will have trouble getting into his rhythm against such a dominant fighter.

Khamzat Chimaev

Age: 27
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 170 lbs.
Reach: 75 ins.
Record: 10-0-0
Striking Accuracy: 83%
Betting Odds: -500

Chimaev has excelled in his first four UFC fights, with four finishes and absorbing only two strikes in those fights. He is an elite wrestler, a powerful striker, and he will hunt the finish early with dominance. Chimaev’s right hand is pure power and will put his opponents lights out at the blink of an eye. He will pick his opponents up and carry them around the Octagon while shouting to the UFC president Dana White, then slam them down on the mat and finish the fight.

Burns is super dangerous on the feet with solid power. If Burns can get heavy pressure early and disrupt Chimaev, he could possibly land a power shot that could finish Chimaev. Although, Chimaev’s wrestling, elite striking and outstanding cardio should prevail. Chimaev should have the higher output and walk Burns down on his way to another finish.

UFC DFS Pick: Khamzat Chimaev via First-Round KO/TKO.

Latest MMA & UFC DFS Content

Aljamain Sterling $6,900 vs. Petr Yan $9,300

Aljamain Sterling

Age: 32
Height: 5-foot-6
Weight: 135 lbs.
Reach: 71 ins.
Record: 20-3-0
Striking Accuracy: 58%
Betting Odds: +350

Sterling was booked to face Yan at UFC 267, but Sterling pulled out due to persistent injuries. He won the first meeting by disqualification due an illegal knee strike thrown by Yan. He has a dangerous and extremely slick submission game. Sterling has two wins via knockout, eight via submission and nine via decision. He should bring a heavy ground attack against Yan while looking for that one opening to lock in a submission. In their last meeting, Sterling was getting picked apart before the illegal knee. Sterling will need to avoid Yan’s push-forward approach because he is vulnerable on his entries, as he showed in their last bout. With Yan’s power, if Sterling cannot get this fight to the mat early, then Sterling could find himself in huge trouble early.

Petr Yan

Age: 29
Height: 5-foot-6
Weight: 135 lbs.
Reach: 67 ins.
Record: 16-0-0
Striking Accuracy: 57%
Betting Odds: -480

Yan is fresh off an impressive win over Cory Sandhagen in October. He has the elite striking to effectively damage his opponents. His hand speed, timing and power are dangerous and can put anyone’s lights out in a hurry. Yan’s boxing skills are elite and can lead to overwhelming his opponents in the Octagon. He has seven wins via knockout, one via submission and eight via decision. Yan will have the boxing advantage, and with Sterling’s push-forward striking style, Yan will find his timing and pick Sterling apart, as he was doing in their last fight before the illegal knee. Furthermore, if the fight hits the mat, Yan’s ground striking is powerful and relentless.

The lean on DraftKings and FanDuel is Yan. However, Sterling is super dangerous on the mat with a slick submission game. Yan absolutely was dominating Sterling in their last fight, and so expect the same outcome in this fight.

UFC DFS Pick: Petr Yan via Third-Round KO/TKO.

Alexander Volkanovski $9,500 vs. Chan Sung Jung $6,700

Alexander Volkanovski

Age: 33
Height: 5-foot-5
Weight: 145 lbs.
Reach: 71.5 ins.
Record: 23-1-0
Striking Accuracy: 59%
Betting Odds: -800

Volkanovski has not lost a fight since 2013, winning 22 straight. He defeated Max Holloway for the featherweight title in 2019 and successfully defended his title against Holloway in 2020. He is a well-rounded fighter and lands at a high rate. He is a relentless striker, but he will utilize brutal leg kicks to control range. Over time, Volkanovski’s grappling has gotten better to the point where he has showed the ability to battle with some of the best jiu-jitsu practitioners in the division. Furthermore, Volkanovski put on a show against Brian Ortega, escaping a choke that would have put anyone else to sleep. This will be an exciting fight, and it will be interesting to see how the Zombie prepares for the skills of Volkanovski.

Chan Sung Jung

Age: 35
Height: 5-foot-6
Weight: 145 lbs.
Reach: 72 ins.
Record: 17-6-0
Striking Accuracy: 47%
Betting Odds: +520

Jung is coming into this matchup off a decision win over Dan Ige in June. He is a dangerous pressure fighter that pushes forward and pressures his opponents while landing big shots in exchanges. He will attempt a jumping knee in every bout, which is one of Jung’s best techniques. An excellent example of this was when he connected it against Dustin Poirier, which clearly rocked him. Jung lands 4.58 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 3.73 per minute. He has a 77% takedown defense, which should be tested often in this fight. Jung should come out with high energy, bringing smothering pressure and trying to catch Volkanovski with the jumping knee or his power right hook.

The lean on DraftKings and FanDuel MMA is Volkanovski. However, Jung is super dangerous on the feet with huge power. If Jung can get heavy pressure early and disrupt Volkanovski’s rhythm, he could possibly land a power shot that could finish Volkanovski. Although, Volkanovski’s elite striking, power, and outstanding cardio should prevail.

UFC DFS Pick: Alexander Volkanovski via Third-Round KO/TKO.

Thanks for reading to the end of this article! If you appreciate this free content and want to see more of it every day, you can help us out by sharing this article on social media!