UFC 190: Best DraftKings Fantasy Picks for Ronda Rousey vs. Bethe Correia Card
Ronda Rousey is going to beat Bethe Correia, but you shouldn't draft her in a UFC 190 DraftKings contest.
There's almost no conceivable way Correia can beat the UFC women's bantamweight champion—even with the event taking place in the challenger's home country of Brazil. But there's two major reasons why Rousey isn't a smart pick in a DraftKings contest.
First off, her DK salary is about as high as you'll ever see for one fighter at $12,200. That makes it virtually impossible for you to draft any of the other favorites.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Secondly, there's some belief that Rousey wants to punish Correia. That could mean Rousey will allow the fight to last more than one round so that she can inflict more damage. That might score some style points, but it will diminish the amount of fantasy points Rousey earns for your lineup.
Rousey's a lock to win, but due to the dynamics of the UFC 190 card, it's best to avoid picking the most dangerous unarmed woman in the world.
Here's my optimal lineup for UFC 190:
| Stefan Struve | Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira | $10,800 |
| Soa Palelei | Antonio Silva | $10,600 |
| Patrick Cummins | Rafael Cavalcante | $10,600 |
| Neil Magny | Demian Maia | $9,000 |
| A. Rogerio Nogueira | Mauricio "Shogun" Rua | $8,900 |
Soa Palelei ($10,600) vs. Antonio Silva
This pick is as much about who Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva isn't any longer as it is who Soa Palelei is as a fighter. The latter is a big, strong, powerful striker and accomplished submissions fighter. He's dangerous against most heavyweights.
Silva has been in his share of huge fights and even pulled out some big wins over the likes of Alistair Overeem and the legendary Fedor Emelianenko. That said, Bigfoot is spent.
The 35-year-old Brazilian hasn't won a fight in three years and has lost five of his last eight bouts. Palelei hasn't been stopped since 2010 when he submitted to Daniel Cormier from punches when the two were with XMMA. Palelei has lost just one fight in that time span, and all 22 of his wins have come by stoppage (18 KO, four submissions). If he's winning, it's not going the distance.
Palelei will win this bout in smashing fashion, and it won't last beyond the first round.
Patrick Cummins ($10,600) vs. Rafael Cavalcante
Ryan Bader dominated Rafael Cavalcante with his wrestling and top control in their bout back in April 2015. Expect Patrick Cummins to utilize the same game plan when he takes on the Brazilian.
Cummins is a two-time Division I All-American from Penn State. His ground game is among the best in the sport, and fighters with that skill level can dismantle him as long as they don't attempt to stand and trade punches.
Cavalcante owns wins over established wrestlers such as Yoel Romero and Muhammed Lawal, but the mistake Romero and Lawal made was to try and win a stand-up battle. Cummins won't make that mistake. He knows who he is and won't deviate from his best plan of attack.
A ground-and-pound finish is possible, as is a second-round submission.
Stefan Struve ($10,800) vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
This fight is somewhat similar to the Palelei vs. Silva battle. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is a Brazilian legend, but recent history suggests the 39-year-old is way past his prime. He's lost his last two fights with each loss coming by way of stoppage.
Roy Nelson knocked him out in August 2014 and Fabricio Werdum submitted him in June 2013. There's a good chance Nogueira is just about done winning in the UFC unless he's given a cookie in his last fight a la Mark Munoz.
Stefan "The Skyscraper" Struve is in no way an elite heavyweight. The 7-footer has good power, incredible length and a ton of heart, but he's easy to hit and his chin has given way in six of his seven losses. The only issue here is that Nogueira isn't known for his punching power.
Just three of his 34 wins have come by strikes, which means he'll likely have to take the tall timber down to get the win. At Nogueira's advanced age, that's a risky proposition. It seems far more likely that Struve catches Nogueira with a big shot that sets up a KO victory for the Skyscraper.
Neil Magny ($9,000) vs. Demian Maia
Normally, any fighter facing Demian Maia is at a huge disadvantage when it comes to grappling. However, in this matchup, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu master won't have as big of an edge over his opponent. Neil Magny is perhaps the most improved fighter in the promotion over the last three years. The 27-year-old veteran has won seven fights in a row and is a legitimate contender at 170 pounds.
Magny's ground game has become formidable, as evidenced by his last two wins (against Hyun Gyu Lim and Kiichi Kunimoto). Magny used his long 6'3" frame to control his opponents on the mat, securing a TKO and submission victory in the bouts, respectively.
Magny may not be equal or superior to Maia on the ground, but he's good enough there to hold his own. His length and superior athleticism give him an edge in striking and the inside track on an upset.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira ($8,900) vs. Shogun Rua
Like his twin brother, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has been through his share of wars, and there's unquestionable wear on his pugilistic treads. That said, he's probably in better shape than his opponent.
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua has lost seven of his last 11 fights, and four of the defeats have come by stoppage. Even some of his wins in that time have been brutal back-and-forth scraps.
Ovince St. Preux and Dan Henderson viciously stopped Rua in his last two fights. If there's ever been a legend who needs to hang up the gloves, it's Rua. Despite the fact that Shogun has a higher DK salary, this looks like a fight he could lose and ultimately put a firm stamp on the end of his fighting career.
Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
