What was the rule change? Limiting the number of entries? I am just starting to play dk, so id like to know.
Well for starters, when DK first did MMA contests, you had to field a lineup with 5 fighters instead of 6. More often than not it was easier to pick 4 early finishers and usually 1 upset pick to round out your lineup to fit the 50K salary structure. The problem was that it didn't take long before people caught on, which led to a problem that still exists on DK today - which is there's a crap ton of ties in the larger tournaments. This really can't be fixed too much because on fight nights there's only but so many fighters from the pool to pick from. In comparison, the same doesn't happen if there's an NBA, NFL, NHL or MLB DK fantasy tournament. Lineup variation in those sports is massive, but only because the player pool is so big to choose from.
Not only that, but back then (2017), entry fees for tournaments were much higher and 1st prize was much smaller. The big tournaments today usually cost maybe around $15 but back then they were $33 or so. When I won those contests at UFC 200, the biggest tournament was the $33 entry one with first prize being maybe $10K. But I tied with several other people for 1st, cutting my winnings, same with the other 3 contest I won that night. The only contests I won sole first place in were the $3 single entry and $3 - 3 entry max.
I bring up the entry fees to make a point about why DK had to change the format to 6 fighters instead of 5. If it's easier to pick the 5 fights on a lineup, essentially all you need is a large bankroll to enter the bigger contests week after week. Your lineups won't change much outside of 1 or 2 fights and you play the same lineups most likely to win multiple times. If it works out and you get first place, the the lineups you've played multiple times in large contests tie for 1st place and freeze everyone else out of the top 10 which is where all the money is. Do this week after week and essentially you'll see it's rare anyone except for the same few people win. In fact, I saw a guy exploit this for maybe 2-3 months after I won, week after week on DK back then, which led to the format change.
Also, wrestlers in MMA DK fantasy didn't score points for control time back then, and takedowns didn't account for many points either - so strikers scored the majority of points. Having a wrestler in a lineup was pointless.
All in all, the entry fees are smaller nowadays and first prize bigger, but if so many people are playing and a lot of people all tie at the top - no one really notices in larger tournaments how slim your margin actually is to be profitable long term. You're throwing money away with no real chance week after week. Your best bet would be to play single entry tournaments in the long run.
Ya we used to have a sherdog draftkings group where on avg about 10 people would sign up per week 10$ contest winner takes all but it stopped and now since I live in vegas I still do it I just have my buddy from back home reserve the lineups Im a small baller so usually 3$ entries So i cant win alot I mainly just do it for fun though Ive won like 2 contest before for I think 250#
I have a friend do the same for me, but I don't bother unless I know I can field a solid lineup with 6 fighters in a single entry format.
Do keep in mind that Renau has largely been winless in 3 years due to girls being able to grind her out from top position or the clinch. She could win if Tate reacts poorly to getting hit with power, but it should be Miesha's fight to lose.
Tate could always take a punch though. Reneau may be better striking but she doesn't have the power that would deter Tate from implementing a wrestling game. Only Nunes had that kind of power that shocked Tate enough to make her think twice. Zingano had to almost kill Tate before the ref got involved.
