A heavyweight clash is set to headline the next UFC Fight Night card as the No. 2 ranked Curtis Blaydes will take on the No. 4 ranked Derrick Lewis on Saturday, February 20.
The event will take place at the UFC Apex center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The two were set to clash back in November 2020, but the fight had to be postponed after Blaydes tested positive for COVID-19. After the rescheduling, this fight could have big implications when deciding on the next contender for the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
As of Friday, February 19, these were BetOnline’s odds going into the fight:
Moneyline:
- Curtis Blaydes -470
- Derrick Lewis +370
Method of Victory:
- Blaydes by KO/TKO or DQ -150
- Blaydes by Decision +325
- Blaydes by Submission +950
- Lewis by KO/TKO or DQ +450
- Lewis by Decision +1000
- Lewis by Submission +1000
- Draw +6600
Some sportsbooks may vary in odds, however, Blaydes is practically the unanimous favorite across the board. For example, Bovada has him at -450 to win, with Lewis at +325.
UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs Lewis by the Numbers
Blaydes is entering the fight after winning his last four UFC contests in a row. His most recent victory came in June 2020 against Alexander Volkov at another UFC Fight Night. Blaydes’ win was a unanimous decision.
Overall, Blaydes overall MMA record sits at 14-2-0 with 10 of those wins coming via KO or TKO.
On the other hand, Lewis is on his own three-match win streak. His last fight was in August 2020 against Aleksei Oleinik. Lewis would go on to knockout Oleinik just 21 seconds into the second round.
After that fight, Lewis actually predicted how he’d beat Blaydes whenever they fought, saying he could even beat him on the ground.
After fighting for nearly 11 years, Lewis’ record is impressive in his own right. Entering Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, he is 24-7-1 in 32 contests. Is Lewis the most graceful heavyweight fighter ever? No, but his longevity has kept him in the game this long even if he enters the fight as a massive underdog (no pun intended).
It’s Blaydes’ Bout to Lose at UFC Fight Night
While he may not have as much experience as Lewis, Blaydes is, without a doubt, the favorite walking into Las Vegas.
Sportsbook BetOnline also has Blaydes at -470 odds to win. As the No. 2 heavyweight and in the prime of his career, he’s looked extremely dominant in most of his victories. Blaydes has the necessary tools to grind Lewis down and wear him out before finishing him off. Blaydes is also averaging 6.98 takedowns per fight in his career, which is at the top of the heavyweight division. To add on to that, his takedown percentage is at 56 percent.
It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Blaydes will try to tire Lewis out before attempting to finish him with another knockout.
At the same time, it’s important not to count Lewis out just yet. Yes, he’s getting up there in age, but there’s a reason why he has the most career knockouts in the UFC Heavyweight Division (11).
While Lewis may have more power when it comes to strikes, if the fight shifts more to the mat, it may be game over for him. Blaydes has an accomplished wrestling background, while Lewis has only stopped 52 percent of all takedowns during his career.
Regardless, anything can happen in the world of UFC.
