UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus betting odds, preview, and pick
Derrick Lewis grapples with Ciryl Gane in their Interim Heavyweight bout during UFC 265 at Toyota Center in Houston, TX. (Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire)
December 14th, 2021
Veteran heavyweights Derrick Lewis and Chris Daukaus face off in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Dec. 18. Let's examine this matchup, beginning with the latest betting odds.
Lewis is looking to get back in the title mix
The combination of Lewis’ popularity and the lack of compelling fighters at the top of the division all but ensures he’ll earn a title shot if he wins on Saturday night. However, it won't be based entirely on merit, as he was completely overmatched by Ciryl Gane at UFC 265.
Look up the phrase "one dimensional" and you will almost certainly see a picture of Lewis. He’s defensively challenged and stylistically compromised, but is still dangerous with his touch of sleep power. For the most part, Lewis has managed to outlast fighters far superior to him just long enough to catch them with an unholy shot that puts them down and out.
Derrick Lewis vs. Chris Daukaus tale of the tape
| Derrick Lewis | vs. | Chris Daukaus |
|---|
25-8 | Record | 12-3 |
36 | Age | 32 |
6'3" | Height | 6'3" |
79" | Reach | 76" |
4-1 | Last 5 Fights | 5-0 |
Daukaus is taking a big step-up in class
Daukaus is the No. 7 ranked heavyweight and hasn’t gone the distance in five years. He has run afoul of the division’s aging mainstays, slumping both Aleksei Oleinik and Shamil Abdurakhimov in his last two fights.
Like Lewis, Daukaus lives and dies with his striking. Unlike Lewis, he can throw punches in bunches and doesn’t have to load up to land his big shots. He lands a staggering 9.03 strikes per minute compared to Lewis’ 2.49.
Daukaus will score a big win with a first round KO
As close as this fight looks, it does seem like the typical script for a Derrick Lewis fight. You know, the kind of bout where he gets busted up for two rounds by a speedier and sharper opponent before uncorking the poor sap and winning. He's done it against superior opposition in the past, but luck does not substitute for skill. If Daukaus isn’t scared of Lewis - and he shouldn’t be considering his own power - he’ll tag him early and often.
While we’ve seen this all before, we’ve also seen the flip side where Lewis is clearly out of his depth and catches a nasty beating. Expect Daukaus to make the most of his power and volume to stop Lewis in the first round and score the biggest win of his career.
UFC Fight Night pick: Daukaus
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