The MMA Fighting crew has initiated a Fantasy MMA draft for the remainder of 2024, where Alexander K. Lee, Jed Meshew, Mike Heck, and Shaun Al-Shatti select fighters to form their teams and compete for points based on upcoming UFC events, with the draft featuring notable picks like Alex Pereira, Jon Jones, and Sean O’Malley among others.
The 2024 NFL season kicks off this Thursday, and in light of that, the MMA Fighting crew decided to get together to draft yet again. But this time, we’re having even more fun with it. While the previous MMA Fighting drafts have centered around promotions and stardom, this one stands in homage to all the millions of fantasy football leagues that are about to get underway. That’s right, we’re drafting Fantasy MMA for the remainder of 2024!
The rules are fairly simple. Alexander K. Lee, Jed Meshew, Mike Heck, and Shaun Al-Shatti all draft fighters to fill out an MMA roster. Each roster has slots in each of the 11 UFC weight classes, plus one wild card spot that can go to anyone. Then, for the remaining 13 events on UFC’s 2024 calendar, each fighter earns points for his or her team based on the scoring criteria.
What are those criteria?
+100 points for a win.
An additional +50 points for a finish.
Additional +20 if it’s in the 1st Round.
Additional +10 if it’s in the 2nd Round.
+25 points for beating an opponent in the UFC rankings.
+20 points for being in a title fight.
+20 points for being in a main event fight.
+50 points for winning Performance of the Night or Fight of the Night bonus.
Easy enough? We sure hope so.
Based on the Wheel of Justice, Mr. Heck has the first overall choice, followed by Mr. Lee, then Mr. Al-Shatti, with Mr. Meshew taking the wheel in the Snake Draft format.
So, let’s get drafting!
Heck — Alex Pereira, light heavyweight
It seems as if Alex Pereira and I are just made for each other. Once again, he sits in a tremendous position to boost my squad at the top while also beginning the draft with a gut punch for my fellow competitors.
Pereira has already established himself as the current frontrunner for Fighter of the Year with sensational knockouts of Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka. Now, at least on paper, he has a terrific stylistic matchup on Oct. 5 when he defends the light heavyweight title against surprising challenger Khalil Rountree Jr.
Big points as soon as he steps in the octagon! The extra scoreboard-tally potential couldn’t be higher for “Poatan.” It was a no-brainer to take my fellow New Englander from Danbury, Conn.
Lee — Jon Jones, heavyweight
Jon Jones is the GOAT! Dana said so! How can I not pick him first?
Doing some quick math here: good ol’ reliable “Bones” should net me an easy 200 points once we’re through with the ritual sacrifice of Stipe Miocic. With respect to the heavyweight great, this is Jones’ fight to lose. If he doesn’t finish Miocic, then something went terribly wrong.
Now, all I need is for the matchup to actually be booked.
The plan from Day 1 has been for this clash of living legends to take place at Madison Square Garden in New York. That hasn’t changed; we just had to wait 12 months longer than expected. Surely nothing will go wrong this time.
Surely.
Al-Shatti — Kayla Harrison, women’s bantamweight
Damnit, AK! I’d hoped to snag Jones at No. 3 since that’s about as guaranteed of a points bonanza as exists on UFC’s current championship slate. Since that’s not an option, Team Al-Shatti must pivot to our Plan B.
You know what else doesn’t exist on UFC’s year-end schedule? Women’s bantamweights. UFC might be lucky to squeeze out five women’s bantamweight bouts before 2024 is done. Virtually none inspire confidence to light up the scorecard given our scoring criteria. In that sense, this is a pick based on both value and scarcity.
Give me Kayla Harrison effortlessly racking up 150+ points at UFC 307 while y’all try to wade through Nora Cornolles and Daria Zheleznyakovas of the world.
Meshew — Sean O’Malley, bantamweight
Since this is our first time doing this, I’m not entirely sure what the best plan of attack is. But I’ve settled on one: The title fight bonus is massive and getting more than one fight in a year is too.
O’Malley gets me 40 points right out of the gate for being in a main event and a title fight. If he wins, numbers skyrocket! Plus, since he’s fighting next week, there is a world where he turns around for UFC 310 in December and I can double dip. He was No. 1 on my draft board and a steal here.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Meshew — Alexa Grasso, women’s flyweight
This is a heck of a wheel for me: getting the betting favorite in both title fights taking place next week! If one or both win (I think they both will) and then fight again this year? Huge advantage.
Al-Shatti — Isaac Dulgarian, featherweight
And here is where things go off the rails.
Look, I’m either going to look brilliant or absurdly stupid by year-end but someone needs to zig while y’all zagging—screw it—it may as well be me! Is Isaac Dulgarian a sexy pick? No way! Could 99.9 percent of fans pick him out of two-person lineup? Not at all!
But you know which boxes he checks off? He’s -3000 favorite being spoon-fed showcase matchup three days from now!
Like Billy Beane snatching Scott Hatteberg off free agency in Moneyball, we’re hunting inefficiencies here! Sure we could go all-in on 50/50 title challenger hoping they hit home run… Or slap up singles/doubles locking down guaranteed 120+ pts maximizing chances double-dipping late ’24!
Y’all laughing now but real world where Dulgarian demolishes Brendon Marotte Saturday nabs performance bonus ekes another win December suddenly looking year-end standings Isaac Dulgarian out-earning first-round picks like Jones/Pereira!
Maybe crazy maybe not… All I know guys like Dulgarian? THEY GET ON BASE!
Lee — Ilia Topuria, featherweight
As brilliant Mr Meshew noted earlier: title fights easy points board so snagging another championship booking Ilia Topuria vs Max Holloway UFC308! Not confident Topuria finishing Holloway but long believer featherweight champ real deal expect him take care business first defense!
Heck — Raquel Pennington women’s bantamweight
Again quick points feel Raquel Pennington very good chance retaining title—at least this defense! Julianna Peña hasn’t fought over two years pretty good argument shouldn’t opportunity; however done tremendous job staying news cycle talking crap everyone division!
“Rocky” seems peak form right now likely face buzz saw Kayla Harrison expect Pennington victory quintessential “nine catches for 87 yards”-like showing!
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Heck — Alessandro Costa flyweight
Might look surprising pick play value potential Costa probably won’t fighting world title soon sizable favorite beat Matt Schnell weekend UFC Vegas97 gets job done likely finish!
Chances win ranked opponent stoppage too many possible sleeper points table let Costa go further welcome team!
Update: Well first blunder draft Costa suffered injury out fight fun times…
Lee — Benoit Saint Denis lightweight
Finish-hunting pick final odds Benoit Saint Denis vs Renato Moicano close toss-up if “BSD” gets job done taking Moicano inside distance throwing down couple Fight Night checks either way gimme bonus points!
Al-Shatti — Raul Rosas Jr bantamweight
After last round Dulgarian stunner Team Al-Shatti now going all-in two things:
1) Heavy betting favorites
2) Fighters already booked September
Keeping prior Moneyball analogy goal bank many singles doubles possible maximizing chances few athletes sneak second scoring opportunity November/December Rosas fits perfectly proven finisher pegged massive favorite (-700) fast-approaching stage (Sept14) UFC loves enough won’t shocking comes back second bite apple bigger year-end pay-per-views Chiwiwis indeed
Meshew — Tatsuro Taira flyweight
Like first two picks Tatsuro Taira also main event slot—against Brandon Royval October—opportunity beat ranked opponent maybe make quick turnaround depending flyweight title picture unfolds Taira gives good floor high upside
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Meshew — Derrick Lewis heavyweight
Jon Jones No1 Big Board overall want fill heavyweight slot real player aggressive UFC all-time KO leader faces Jhonata Diniz November
Al-Shatti — Robelis Despaigne heavyweight
Give me 6-foot-7 giant friendly matchmaking screams first-round knockout + Performance Night bonus otherwise unremarkable UFC APEX show
Guaranteed points after guaranteed points getting when “Big Boy” meets get-or-get-got all-star Austen Lane October
Lee —Natalia Silva women’s flyweight
“Natty Ice” truth Brazilian star takes biggest challenge fights Jessica Andrade Saturday if puts “Bate Estaca” away strong case title shot importantly strong case best pick women125 whole draft Andrade piled stoppage losses recent years confident Natalia Silva keeps out judges hands
Heck — Magomed Ankalaev wild card
Offense wins game defense wins championships strange strategy can’t let guy like Magomed Ankalaev fall late rounds snagged opponents fighter incredible talent massive chip shoulder heading UFC308 Sorry gents
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Heck — Ciryl Gane heavyweight
UFC308 huge event much like Ankalaev Gane competing guy MMA community seems forget heavyweight discussion tough matchup ahead surging Alexander Volkov Gane already holds victory man like done again
Lee — Khamzat Chimaev middleweight
Khamzat Chimaev best beats anybody including always enjoyable Robert Whittaker imagine finishes “Reaper?” Gimme my points
Yes two first five picks dependent Chimaev Jones making fight night What could go wrong?
Al-Shatti — Morgan Charriere wild card
Massive betting favorite? Check (-1200)
Proven finisher? Check (14 stoppages19 wins)
Fighting soon? Check (Sept28)
Morgan Charriere come down!
Apologies advance AJ Cunningham awaits UFC Paris
Meshew — Dominick Reyes light heavyweight
Aside Alex Pereira205 doesn’t lot good options like Reyes chances something violent Anthony Smith lock horns UFC309