Featherweights Hakeem Dawodu and Zubaira Tukhugov will take the octagon as the first main card event for UFC 253 this Saturday live at Fight Island in Abu Dhabi and available on pay-per-view.
DraftKings DFS Values
Hakeem Dawodu: $8,000
Zubaira Tukhugov: $8,200
Tukhugov is going to enter this match as the ever so slight favorite at -143. Dawodu is currently sitting at +115. Both are expensive in DFS yet come with a high ceiling and low floor, a combination that can typically make-or-break a lineup.
As for Tukhugov, he has the edge historically in DFS point, scoring 72.3. However, this will be just his third fight since 2016 as he went 3-0 in the UFC then lost and didn’t return till late 2019. He’s had two fights since returning, splitting them 1-1.
Back in February, he put up 124 points in first-round knockout. While he presents a good ceiling, Dawodu will be a safer choice as he’s recorded four straight victories, two each in the last couple years.
In each bout, he’s hit at 60 DFS. He had one 82-point unanimous decision as well. Tukhugov will enter with more experience and more comfortable as grappler, but Dawodu (notching 5.28 significant strikes per minute, almost 3 more than Tukhugov) will have the upper hand in striking.
For these prices, I’m taking neither, but it’d be easy to regret missing out as the opposites could manage to end this three-round bout in the first.
DraftKings Sportsbook Odds
Hakeem Dawodu: +115 (50% of action, 53% of bets)
Zubaira Tukhugov: -143 (50% of action, 47% of bets)