Daily Fantasy MMA Picks for UFC Fight Night 83 - 2/20/16

Tons of experience in this one as Camozzi and Joe Riggs have combined for 89 professional MMA fights. Camozzi’s 22 wins are 19 less than Riggs, but he’s simply the better fighter. Camozzi is a UFC veteran, 3-1 in his last four fights with two opening round stoppages. Riggs has bounced around the other promotions throughout his career and is lucky to still be in the UFC.  He’s 1-2 since joining the promotion in December of 2014 but that win came via DQ thanks to an illegal upkick. Camozzi should dispatch Riggs and send him out of the UFC - roster him in all formats.

I have a huge amount of love for Cody “No Love” Garbrandt, the undefeated 24-year old is 7-0 with six career finishes. Garbrandt is 2-0 in the UFC and this could be the fight where he gets his first early stoppage in the big time. The young bantamweight draws UFC newbie and BJJ specialist Augusto Mendes. Menden can be dangerous and holds a 5-0 record with four submission victories. I don’t think he’ll have that success with Garbrandt and “No Love” gives you a great chance at the 100 point first-round win bonus.

Reneau had a five fight win streak snapped in her last outing, but that came against the newly crowned queen of MMA, Holly Holm. “The Bruiser” has four wins by stoppage in her last six fights and is 2-1 in her UFC career. Her experience should come in handy in this fight and the 38 year old needs to make something happen now if she ever hopes to get into the title picture. This pick is aided by her opponent, Ashlee Evans-Smith, who is 3-1 in her pro career but lost her UFC debut after being put to sleep by a Bulldog Choke (look it up, it’s a rare finish to actually pull off – but it’s real).

If you’ve read my picks before, you know I’m a huge fan of underdogs who know how to finish. “The Holy War Angel” (pause to let that nickname soak in) fits that bill and then some. Bamgbose is 5-1 but did lose his UFC debut to Uriah Hall. However, I can’t overstate the value on this pick with Daniel Sarafian looking to hand Bamgbose a second straight loss. Sarafian should be on a three fight losing streak but won his last bout after a gruesome finger injury gave him a TKO win over Antonio dos Santos Jr.

Prior to his last bout, Campbell had eight straight fights end by stoppage. I’m counting on that here in a fight that I think is more even than the Vegas lines and fantasy salaries indicate. Campbell is 4-1 in his last five and 1-1 in his UFC career, making him a true value play. He squares-off with James “The James Krause” Krause who has a nickname that makes me hate him instantly. But the numbers back me as well with Krause posting a 2-3 mark in his last five bouts. Even fight – I’m taking the underdog.

Last time I went on this big of a limb, we got paid off BIG TIME with a first round knockout. Kawajiri is a 37 year old war horse with a 35-8-2 career record and two straight UFC wins. Dennis Bermudiez has been finished in two straight fights and maybe, just maybe, this turns into a three-fight skid. Kawajiri is a long shot but if Bermudiez hasn’t righted the ship, “The Crusher” is the kind of fighter that won’t miss an opportunity. Kawajiri should be pretty low owned across the board and is a prime GPP play for this card.