UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega · Sep 25, 2021 · Heavyweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega Next Fight
Age 36
Height 6' 3"
Reach 76.0"
Weight 205 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 44
Height 6' 3"
Reach 76.0"
Weight 235 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Chris Daukaus
6.05 SLpM
50.0% Str. Acc.
4.64 SApM
55.0% Str. Def.
0.0 TD Avg
0.0% TD Acc.
100.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Shamil Abdurakhimov
2.41 SLpM
44.0% Str. Acc.
3.02 SApM
55.0% Str. Def.
1.01 TD Avg
23.0% TD Acc.
45.0% TD Def.
0.1 Sub. Avg
Chris Daukaus
Moneyline
BetWay -188
KO/TKO
FanDuel +120
Submission
BetMGM +1800
Decision
FanDuel +380
Shamil Abdurakhimov
Moneyline
FanDuel +188
KO/TKO
DraftKings +450
Submission
FanDuel +2600
Decision
BetRivers +400
Chris Daukaus - Fight History
TKO (punches) R1 2:40 · UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. dos Anjos · Aug 12, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Khalil Rountree Jr. 1 16 of 24 66% 16 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:31
Chris Daukaus 0 8 of 21 38% 14 of 28 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Khalil Rountree Jr. 1 16 of 24 66% 16 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:31
Chris Daukaus 0 8 of 21 38% 14 of 28 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Khalil Rountree Jr. 16 of 24 66% 12 of 19 3 of 4 1 of 1 11 of 17 3 of 4 2 of 3
Chris Daukaus 8 of 21 38% 6 of 19 2 of 2 0 of 0 7 of 19 1 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Khalil Rountree Jr. 16 of 24 66% 12 of 19 3 of 4 1 of 1 11 of 17 3 of 4 2 of 3
Chris Daukaus 8 of 21 38% 6 of 19 2 of 2 0 of 0 7 of 19 1 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Khalil Rountree Jr.

Angelo picks Rountree, citing his Muay Thai, speed, and kicks as the difference. He notes Daukaus is a pure boxer who doesn't use takedowns, and the speed advantage at light heavyweight will be key. He expects a decision win.

"I've got to go with Khalil here"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Khalil Rountree Jr.

Big Brady picks Khalil Rountree to win by first-round knockout. He notes Rountree's power and aggression when he is 'on', but questions his consistency. He doubts Daukaus's durability and speed at light heavyweight, and believes Rountree will finish him early. He mentions Daukaus's three consecutive knockout losses at heavyweight and thinks the weight cut won't help.

first round knockout
"Round Tree Round Tree first round knockout for me but sometimes Roundtree doesn't show up man sometimes he doesn't show up"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 9, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Khalil Rountree Jr.

Cody picks Rountree, citing Daukaus' lack of cardio at heavyweight and the unknown of his 40-pound cut to light heavyweight. He notes Daukaus has never attempted a takedown in the UFC and has no history of grappling, while Rountree has shown he can go three rounds. He thinks if the fight stretches, Rountree's power and durability will prevail. He also mentions a potential live betting opportunity if Daukaus takes Rountree down early.

Daukaus by submission at 20-1 (opened), now 8-1; mentions a 14-1 still available
"I think I'm gonna add joke a little Roundtree and uh it would be like a good live betting situation if he does get taken down"
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Aug 9, 2023 (3 days before fight)

James has no strong opinion on this fight, calling it a 'weird one' with too much volatility. He notes Rountree is inconsistent and Daukaus is moving down in weight after three bad knockout losses. He doesn't want to speak on it further and says he has nothing to say.

"I don't really have a big opinion about this one... anything can happen."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 10, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Khalil Rountree Jr.

Rountree is on a winning streak and has improved his confidence and aggressiveness. He is dangerous on the feet and should keep the fight upright. Daukaus is dropping to light heavyweight after three straight KO losses at heavyweight. Rountree has the power advantage and should knock him out. The fight not going to decision is a strong prop.

fight doesn't go to decision, Rountree by KO
"I think that Roundtree will do a good enough job in terms of keeping this fight upright and utilizing his Superior striking to eventually find the chin of darkest and put him all clean here"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 9, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Paul picked Daukaus at plus 182 two weeks ago and is confident in the move to light heavyweight. He believes Daukaus' speed and power from heavyweight will translate well, and that he has a significant grappling advantage if he chooses to use it. He notes Rountree's poor ground game and thinks Daukaus can get the fight to the mat and finish. He also mentions the submission prop at 20-1 that got smashed down to 8-1.

Bet Daukaus at +182 two weeks ago; mentions Daukaus by submission prop at 20-1 (opened), now 8-1
"I took him out like plus 182 like two weeks ago like basically as soon as the number opened I was just like I think he's at least live"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 8, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Khalil Rountree Jr.

The MMA Guru picks Khalil Rountree Jr. over Chris Daukaus, stating Daukaus was never good at heavyweight and is moving down to a higher skill division. He criticizes Daukaus's poor distance management and notes he has been brutally finished three times in a row. He predicts Rountree will KO Daukaus in round one.

KO in round one
"I'm going with a little round tree over Chris Dorcas"
KO (punch) R1 0:23 · UFC 282: Blachowicz vs. Ankalaev · Dec 10, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jairzinho Rozenstruik 1 12 of 21 57% 12 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
Chris Daukaus 0 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jairzinho Rozenstruik 1 12 of 21 57% 12 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
Chris Daukaus 0 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jairzinho Rozenstruik 12 of 21 57% 12 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0 9 of 16 0 of 1 3 of 4
Chris Daukaus 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jairzinho Rozenstruik 12 of 21 57% 12 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0 9 of 16 0 of 1 3 of 4
Chris Daukaus 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Dec 4, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Angelo picks Daukaus despite Rozenstruik being a 2-1 favorite, because he believes Daukaus is the better striker with better footwork, speed, and volume. He notes both have power and suspect chins, making it essentially a 50-50 fight. He advises not to bet on this fight due to the volatility, but suggests using both in knockout Kings entries.

Do not bet on this fight; use both in knockout Kings entries.
"I want to pick dacas here I think he's the better Striker and that sounds stupid because technically speaking I think rosenstruck is but I think Chris has the better footwork he's active he's faster he's busier"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Dec 7, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Big Brady picks Jairzinho Rozenstruik, emphasizing his superior power and questioning Daukaus's chin after being knocked out by Curtis Blaydes. He notes Rozenstruik has been more active and hits harder, and expects a first-round knockout. He criticizes the UFC for feeding Daukaus to a heavy hitter.

Rozenstruik wins by first round knockout
"I'm gonna go rosenstruck to win by first round knockout but I think somebody's getting knocked out here and in probably in the first round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 7, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Cody picks Rozenstruik, citing his power and kickboxing background. He notes Daukaus has durability issues, having been knocked out by Lewis and Blaydes. He thinks Rozenstruik will land a counter right hand and knock him out. He suggests Rozenstruik by knockout or under 1.5 rounds.

Rozenstruik by knockout, under 1.5 rounds
"I'm going to lean towards Die Trying gets in the face lands a couple shots gets his confidence going and then just walks into a counter right hand from rosen's truck the flat lines them so give me a rose …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Dec 9, 2022 (1 day before fight)
Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Lock picks Rozenstruik to win, likely by knockout, but he is not comfortable paying the chalk price. He notes that Rozenstruik doesn't always maximize his knockout opportunities, making him hesitant even on the KO line at -125. From a PredictionStrike perspective, he suggests a pump and dump: buy Rozenstruik this weekend, sell after the win, because Rozenstruik has a ceiling and won't crack the top five again. He also mentions Daukaus might be cut after a third straight loss.

pump and dump on PredictionStrike
"I'll go with Rosen strike I'll just say pump and dump buy him this weekend knocks out Chris Chris talk to someone say Curtis"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 7, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Paul picks Rozenstruik, noting his power and that Daukaus has been knocked out by heavy hitters. He is more interested in the under 1.5 rounds prop, as he expects a finish. He acknowledges Rozenstruik is coming off a knockout loss but thinks Daukaus' durability is a bigger issue.

Under 1.5 rounds (-155)
"I'm gonna pick Rosen strike for the purposes of this show but I'm more interested in the under one and a half rounds like daucus doesn't yeah I mean you you summed it up very very nicely"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 5, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Jairzinho Rozenstruik

The MMA Guru picks Jairzinho Rozenstruik over Chris Daukaus by first-round KO. He criticizes Daukaus's chin and believes he was exposed in his fight against Shamil Abdurakhimov, where he got hit a lot. Rozenstruik has a reach advantage and power, and Daukaus is coming off a loss by his brother. He predicts Rozenstruik will put him down early.

"I think Rosen strike's gonna put him in a spliff so I think Rosen strike owes him in the first round puts him down"
LOSS vs Curtis Blaydes
TKO (punches) R2 0:17 · UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Daukaus · Mar 26, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Curtis Blaydes 1 30 of 63 47% 30 of 63 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Chris Daukaus 0 13 of 38 34% 13 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Curtis Blaydes 0 23 of 53 43% 23 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Chris Daukaus 0 12 of 37 32% 12 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Curtis Blaydes 1 7 of 10 70% 7 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Chris Daukaus 0 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Curtis Blaydes 30 of 63 47% 23 of 55 1 of 2 6 of 6 24 of 54 0 of 0 6 of 9
Chris Daukaus 13 of 38 34% 12 of 36 1 of 2 0 of 0 13 of 38 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Curtis Blaydes 23 of 53 43% 17 of 46 0 of 1 6 of 6 23 of 53 0 of 0 0 of 0
Chris Daukaus 12 of 37 32% 11 of 35 1 of 2 0 of 0 12 of 37 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Curtis Blaydes 7 of 10 70% 6 of 9 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 6 of 9
Chris Daukaus 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 20, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Curtis Blaydes

Angelo picks Curtis Blaydes confidently, citing his dominant wrestling and astronomical takedown numbers. He notes that Blaydes took down Rosenstriuk, Volkov, and others multiple times. He thinks Chris Daukaus' boxing and BJJ won't matter because he won't be able to settle into a rhythm with the constant takedown threat. He sees Blaydes winning a grueling fight.

"i tend to agree because curtis is such a dominant wrestler"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Curtis Blaydes

Big Brady picks Curtis Blaydes to win by second or third round TKO. He notes that Blaydes has a massive wrestling advantage and will take Daukaus down at will, as Daukaus has shown poor takedown defense in earlier fights. He also mentions that Daukaus has no submissions on his record, so he won't threaten off his back. Brady acknowledges that Daukaus could knock Blaydes out, but Blaydes has only lost to Francis Ngannou and Derrick Lewis, two of the hardest hitters in the division, so he doesn't see Daukaus doing the same.

Blaydes wins by TKO in round 2 or 3
"I think blades is going to take him down at will, I think blades is going to take him down easily here and eventually break dawkisson and probably finish him in the second or third round."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Curtis Blaydes

Cody agrees Blaydes should win but is wary of the price. He highlights Daukaus' cardio issues and poor chin, and Blaydes' ability to grind with takedowns and elbows. He thinks Blaydes could get a TKO finish due to his weight and pressure. He notes Daukaus has a puncher's chance but sees Blaydes as the logical pick.

puncher's chance for Daukaus by KO
"i think the logical pick would be at blades blades grinds and that's what i'm going with"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 24, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Curtis Blaydes

Daniel Levi picks Curtis Blaydes, citing his relentless takedown attempts and wrestling pressure as the key factor. He notes that Blaydes attempted 25 takedowns against Volkov and landed 14, and that fighters who keep shooting without discouragement are matchup problems. He acknowledges Daukaus has improved his physique and takedown defense is unknown, but believes Blaydes will implement his game plan and likely win by ground-and-pound stoppage. He also mentions Blaydes could catch Daukaus on the feet if Daukaus is too worried about the takedown.

Blaydes by KO/TKO (ground and pound), fight doesn't go to decision
"I have to favor blades for that reason man... these guys that can attempt takedown after takedown after takedown without getting discouraged... those guys are such a matchup problem"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 23, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Curtis Blaydes

The host is very confident in Blaydes, believing his wrestling and strength will overwhelm Daukaus. He notes Daukaus lacks the power of Lewis or Ngannou, and that Blaydes can win on the feet or via takedowns. He expects a finish by round 2 or 3 via ground and pound.

Blaydes inside the distance; Blaydes round 2 TKO via ground and pound
"i like blades a decent amount on this like i said i think it's very easy to break down this fight"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Curtis Blaydes

Paul sees Blaydes as a clear favorite due to his wrestling advantage and size. He expects Blaydes to be cautious early but then dominate with takedowns and ground control. He notes Blaydes' chin is compromised but believes he will avoid danger and grind out a win. He considers Blaydes a solid parlay piece early in the week.

parlay piece
"I got curtis blades to weigh and i think curtis blade wins this fight probably eight out of ten times"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Curtis Blaydes

The MMA Guru picks Curtis Blaydes by second-round arm triangle submission over Chris Daukaus. He cites Blaydes' size and wrestling advantage, noting Daukaus hasn't shown his black belt jiu-jitsu in the UFC. The Guru expects Blaydes to be calm due to Daukaus' lack of intimidation, get a double leg, and grind out a submission. He criticizes the 4-1 odds as making betting pointless.

second round arm triangle submission; hates the 4-1 odds
"i'm gonna go with curtis blades here"
LOSS vs Derrick Lewis
KO (punches) R1 3:36 · UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus · Dec 18, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Derrick Lewis 1 14 of 28 50% 14 of 28 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Chris Daukaus 0 10 of 19 52% 10 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Derrick Lewis 1 14 of 28 50% 14 of 28 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Chris Daukaus 0 10 of 19 52% 10 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Derrick Lewis 14 of 28 50% 12 of 26 1 of 1 1 of 1 11 of 24 3 of 4 0 of 0
Chris Daukaus 10 of 19 52% 6 of 14 1 of 1 3 of 4 8 of 15 2 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Derrick Lewis 14 of 28 50% 12 of 26 1 of 1 1 of 1 11 of 24 3 of 4 0 of 0
Chris Daukaus 10 of 19 52% 6 of 14 1 of 1 3 of 4 8 of 15 2 of 4 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Derrick Lewis vs. Chris Daukaus

Round 1
When the dust settles after this heavyweight headliner, it is very possibly only one man will remain standing. Two-time title challenger Lewis (25-8, 1 NC; 16-6 UFC) will try to get back to his winning ways and aim to earn the UFC’s all-time knockout honor of 13 when he faces hard-nosed Philadelphia-based brawler Daukaus (12-3, 4-0 UFC). In slugfest that might not last long, referee Mark Smith has put on his proverbial hard hat and is ready for whatever comes. They touch gloves, and any extended fists will come out much faster next time. Taking the center of the cage is “The Black Beast,” and the two measure one another for the first 50 seconds until Daukaus leaps forward with a short flurry. Lewis pushes him away and gets warned for pointing his fingers out, and Daukaus responds with a heavy leg kick. Daukaus comes in with a right hook, and Lewis slips it and just misses with an uppercut. Lewis blocks a punch and comes out with a big right, and they both jab at one another with fingers outstretched. Lewis lands a heavy leg kick and looses a fast combination, but Daukaus does not appear worse for wear. Daukaus darts in and out to attack, getting off a right hand and moving away before Lewis can sit down on the power counter he so desperately seeks. Lewis comes up high with a kick that glances off Daukaus’ forearm, and Daukaus kicks at him low to decent effect. The leg kicks start to add up for Daukaus, and Lewis visibly appears frustrated from eating those kicks. “The Black Beast” successfully scores a jumping switch kick, and he might have Daukaus hurt. Lewis smells blood and unleashes a bombardment of blows that rocks Daukaus against the cage. Lewis trips him up as he continues to work Daukaus over, and he nails Daukaus in the chest with a knee to shake him up badly. Daukaus tries to swing back at him, but he is wobbled and cannot land cleanly as Lewis is putting it on him. Letting loose with a trio of thunderous uppercuts, Lewis knocks Daukaus back, off of his feet and out of his consciousness. Knowing his work here is done, Lewis walks off, as the proud owner of the most knockouts in UFC history. Lewis takes his groin cup out of his shorts, and he throws it into the crowd – a fan happily grabs the strange souvenir without gloves on. In victory, Lewis tells the promotion that he would love a title shot, so long as it does not have to be five rounds – he has no interest in preparing for five-round fights anymore. With that, we say goodbye to the UFC in 2021, and we go on break from this promotion for nearly a month until UFC on ESPN 32 comes back with Calvin Katter vs. Giga Chikadze on display on Jan. 15. We will certainly be here for it, and we hope that after you enjoy your holidays, you are here for it too.

The Official Result
Derrick Lewis def. Chris Daukaus R1 3:36 via KO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Dec 15, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Angelo picks Chris Daukaus with a unit on the moneyline at -140. He believes Daukaus is more technically sound, has more power, and should win. He notes that every Derrick Lewis prediction is the same: pick the other guy but give the caveat that Lewis can knock anyone out. Angelo thinks Daukaus will do the right thing and win, but acknowledges Lewis has a puncher's chance.

1 unit on moneyline at -140
"full money line minus 140 i got a unit on chris dawkins to do the right thing and win this fight"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Dec 15, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Big Brady picks Chris Daukaus by first-round knockout, citing his high volume (9.03 significant strikes per minute) and improved cardio after quitting his police job. He notes Lewis's low volume and susceptibility to being hit, but acknowledges Lewis's power and comeback ability. He expects Daukaus to land volume and finish Lewis early, but admits Lewis can never be counted out.

first round knockout
"give me chris dawkins to win by first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 16, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Cody likes Daukaus's speed and mobility at heavyweight, noting his fast hands and BJJ black belt. He acknowledges Daukaus's cardio concerns from his last loss but believes it has improved. He thinks Daukaus can win wherever the fight goes, but warns that Derrick Lewis always carries KO power, so Daukaus must be careful. Cody picks Daukaus but is cautious about the line.

"I think docus is going to be all over him early but if derek lewis is going to derrick lewis and survives for whatever reason two or three rounds at least we know for him dude could hit you at …"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Dec 16, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Derrick Lewis

Daniel Levi picks Derrick Lewis to win by knockout. He acknowledges Chris Daukaus's fast hands and impressive 4-0 UFC start with four KOs, but questions Daukaus's durability over five rounds, noting his past knockout loss. Levi believes Lewis's experience and comeback ability, as seen against Volkov and Blaydes, will be key. He expects Lewis to survive the early onslaught and finish Daukaus in the later rounds.

Lewis by KO in rounds 3-5
"I'm going Derek the Black Beast Lewis man to come out here and knock out Chris Daukaus."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Dec 15, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Jacob picks Chris Daukaus, citing Lewis' disappointing performance against Ciryl Gane where he quit. He believes Lewis is on the decline and that Daukaus is a much better fighter from top to bottom. Jacob hopes Daukaus avoids the one big shot and wins to bring fresh talent to the top of the division. He thinks Daukaus should win easily.

"chris dawkins is just such a better fighter than derek lewis from top to bottom"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Dec 17, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Chris Daukaus

The host picks Daukaus by KO, citing his superior boxing and movement. He thinks Daukaus will stay safe, work the body, and eventually finish Lewis. However, he acknowledges Lewis's power and is not fully confident, so he prefers the KO prop at +120 over the moneyline.

Daukaus by KO (+120)
"I'm going to take darkest i'm going to take darkest by ko that that seems to be the obvious play here uh that is currently sitting at uh well i can't define it here it is docus pacquiao plus 120 …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Dec 16, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Paul agrees with Daukaus but is more cautious, citing Daukaus's lack of shown wrestling and the size difference (Lewis is 270-280 lbs on fight night). He compares the matchup to the Volkov fight where Lewis was losing until a last-second KO. Paul warns that Lewis only needs one strike, so he advises against getting too heavily invested at -140.

"I'm with you as well I like doc dawkis as well in this spot but I don't like him that much because like you mentioned the wrestling he hasn't really shown the wrestling whatsoever"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 13, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Derrick Lewis

The MMA Guru picks Derrick Lewis as an underdog to win by first-round KO. He notes Daukaus is hittable and has poor head movement, as seen in the Abdurakhimov fight. He thinks Lewis has the power and size advantage, and Daukaus is not big enough to grapple with Lewis. He predicts Lewis will land a big right hand over the top for the KO.

first round KO
"i'm going with the underdog derrick lewis here over chris dawkis"
TKO (punches and elbows) R2 1:23 · UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega · Sep 25, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Chris Daukaus 0 23 of 63 36% 23 of 63 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Shamil Abdurakhimov 2 38 of 93 40% 38 of 93 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:48
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Chris Daukaus 0 19 of 47 40% 19 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Shamil Abdurakhimov 1 28 of 65 43% 28 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:37
2 Chris Daukaus 0 4 of 16 25% 4 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Shamil Abdurakhimov 1 10 of 28 35% 10 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Chris Daukaus 23 of 63 36% 13 of 48 6 of 11 4 of 4 22 of 62 1 of 1 0 of 0
Shamil Abdurakhimov 38 of 93 40% 34 of 88 2 of 3 2 of 2 18 of 58 2 of 5 18 of 30
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Chris Daukaus 19 of 47 40% 9 of 32 6 of 11 4 of 4 18 of 46 1 of 1 0 of 0
Shamil Abdurakhimov 28 of 65 43% 25 of 62 1 of 1 2 of 2 12 of 39 2 of 5 14 of 21
2 Chris Daukaus 4 of 16 25% 4 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
Shamil Abdurakhimov 10 of 28 35% 9 of 26 1 of 2 0 of 0 6 of 19 0 of 0 4 of 9
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Angelo picks Daukaus, citing his speed, technical boxing, and combination striking. He notes that Abdurakhimov has more power but is less clean and hasn't fought in two years. Angelo believes Daukaus will use his speed and angles to put Abdurakhimov away, though he acknowledges the unknown of Daukaus' takedown defense.

Angelo likes Daukaus at $8,000 in DraftKings and suggests a moneyline bet or inside the distance. He also mentions the line has moved to -210 and recommends inside the distance decision no action at -170.
"Chris Dawkins wins this"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Big Brady picks Chris Daukaus to win by first-round knockout. He notes that Shamil Abdurakhimov is 40 years old, has a two-year layoff, and has health issues, while Daukaus has improved significantly and has power. He believes Daukaus will stuff takedowns and land a knockout.

first round knockout
"give me chris dawkins to win and chris stock is to get another first round at knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 23, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Cody picks Daukaus, citing his speed advantage, youth, and recent improvements. He notes Abdurakhimov is 40, hasn't fought in two years, and was throttled by Blaydes. He expects Daukaus to finish him, possibly inside the distance.

Daukaus inside the distance (+100)
"i expect uh darkest to get the job done"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Daniel Levi picks Chris Daukaus, citing his fast hands for a heavyweight and his black belt in jiu-jitsu. He notes that Daukaus has finished opponents quickly but has been finished himself when fights go past the first round. Levi is curious to see how Daukaus handles the second round but believes his speed and momentum will be enough against Shamil Abdurakhimov, who has been out for a while.

"i gotta go with chris dawkis the age gap the the speed the momentum all that"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Jacob picks Daukaus, calling him a real deal heavyweight prospect. He notes that Abdurakhimov's wrestling is not effective and that Daukaus has a ton of first-round finishes. Jacob believes this is a setup win for Daukaus and expects a finish.

Jacob likes Daukaus by KO/TKO at +120 and plans to include him in DraftKings lineup. He calls it a 'quadruple lock of the week' and mentions knockout Kings.
"Chris Dawkins honestly is a real deal Prodigy in the heavyweight Division"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 25, 2021 (fight day)
Chris Daukaus

The host picks Chris Daukaus by first-round knockout. He believes Daukaus' striking is improving fight by fight and his speed and movement will keep Abdurakhimov at bay. He expects Daukaus to land crisp straight shots down the middle and eventually find the knockout blow. He notes that Abdurakhimov has the grappling advantage but Daukaus' striking is too good to fade.

"official prediction for this fight will be darkest and i'm going to take him to one by first round knockout"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Sep 23, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Paul picks Daukaus, noting his speed, boxing advantage, and youth. He mentions Abdurakhimov's age, layoff, and recent loss. He expects Daukaus to win but is unsure about the over/under rounds.

"i think dog is just dances around shamil um and honestly chamill is basically uh almost on the level with like olynyk at this point"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 19, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

The MMA Guru picks Chris Daukaus over Shamil Abdurakhimov, citing Daukaus' speed and power, and Abdurakhimov's two-year layoff and history of being knocked out. He notes that Daukaus showed good takedown defense against Alexei Oleinik and is a fast starter. He expects Abdurakhimov to be hesitant early due to ring rust, and Daukaus to land a counter blow and finish with a TKO in the first round.

first round tko
"i'm going to be going with chris dalcause here by first round tko over shimila abdurakimov"
TKO (punches) R1 1:55 · UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis · Feb 20, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Chris Daukaus 0 5 of 10 50% 6 of 11 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:24
Aleksei Oleinik 0 34 of 56 60% 34 of 56 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Chris Daukaus 0 5 of 10 50% 6 of 11 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:24
Aleksei Oleinik 0 34 of 56 60% 34 of 56 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Chris Daukaus 5 of 10 50% 3 of 8 1 of 1 1 of 1 5 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Aleksei Oleinik 34 of 56 60% 32 of 54 2 of 2 0 of 0 28 of 49 2 of 3 4 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Chris Daukaus 5 of 10 50% 3 of 8 1 of 1 1 of 1 5 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Aleksei Oleinik 34 of 56 60% 32 of 54 2 of 2 0 of 0 28 of 49 2 of 3 4 of 4
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Feb 19, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Daniel Levi is impressed with Chris Daukaus's hand speed and accuracy, noting his quick knockouts of Parker Porter and Nascimento. He believes Daukaus only needs 20-30 seconds of pocket exchanges to knock out Oleinik, who is a liability standing. Levi acknowledges Oleinik's 45 submission wins but thinks Daukaus has the grappling skills to avoid submissions and keep the fight standing. He expects a first-round knockout and sees Daukaus as a rising heavyweight prospect.

first round knockout
"i'm going with chris dyches by first round starching of alexia olynyk getting into that top ten"
KO (punches) R1 0:45 · UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen · Oct 11, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Chris Daukaus 2 13 of 21 61% 13 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:24
Rodrigo Nascimento 0 1 of 4 25% 1 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Chris Daukaus 2 13 of 21 61% 13 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:24
Rodrigo Nascimento 0 1 of 4 25% 1 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Chris Daukaus 13 of 21 61% 13 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0 6 of 11 0 of 0 7 of 10
Rodrigo Nascimento 1 of 4 25% 0 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Chris Daukaus 13 of 21 61% 13 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0 6 of 11 0 of 0 7 of 10
Rodrigo Nascimento 1 of 4 25% 0 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 7, 2020 (4 days before fight)
Rodrigo Nascimento

Big Brady picks Nascimento, citing his legit BJJ black belt, 100% finish rate (75% by submission), and cardio advantage. He expects Nascimento to submit Daukaus in the second round. He notes Daukaus has bad cardio and has been submitted before, and that Nascimento's striking has improved. He advises waiting for the line to improve.

Nascimento by second round submission; Daukaus first round at +500
"i'm gonna take nacimento to win a buy i'm gonna say second round submission"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Oct 9, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Daniel picks Chris Daukaus as an underdog, believing the line is too wide. He notes that Daukaus has slimmed down and looked impressive in his last fight, showing underrated hand speed. He thinks Nascimento is unproven against real competition and that this is closer to a 50/50 fight. Daniel is not calling Nascimento a fraud but sees value on Daukaus.

Daniel mentions that Daukaus has been losing weight and taking fighting more seriously. He also notes that Nascimento's debut was against a hand-picked opponent.
"Man i might actually take him for the upset i just think the line's off"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Oct 8, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Daukaus has sharper hands and improving striking, while Nascimento is wild and has questionable cardio. Daukaus can land clean shots and potentially finish in the second or third round. However, Nascimento's size and BJJ are threats, making this a stay-away fight.

"i'm actually leaning chris doug is here"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 4, 2020 (7 days before fight)
Rodrigo Nascimento

The Guru picks Nascimento, citing his size, athleticism, and patient approach. He notes Nascimento's takedown ability and ground control, and believes he will present challenges Daukaus hasn't faced. He predicts Nascimento will wobble Daukaus with strikes, then take him down and submit him with a rear-naked choke in the first or second round.

first or second round submission (rear-naked choke)
"first or second round nascamento feyer eventually cracks him wobbles him a little bit then goes for the takedown and gets a rear naked choke finish in the first or second round"
WIN vs Parker Porter
TKO (punches and knee) R1 4:28 · UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier 3 · Aug 15, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Chris Daukaus 2 37 of 59 62% 45 of 67 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:35
Parker Porter 0 17 of 52 32% 18 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Chris Daukaus 2 37 of 59 62% 45 of 67 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:35
Parker Porter 0 17 of 52 32% 18 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Chris Daukaus 37 of 59 62% 29 of 49 4 of 6 4 of 4 29 of 50 6 of 7 2 of 2
Parker Porter 17 of 52 32% 12 of 44 1 of 4 4 of 4 14 of 47 3 of 5 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Chris Daukaus 37 of 59 62% 29 of 49 4 of 6 4 of 4 29 of 50 6 of 7 2 of 2
Parker Porter 17 of 52 32% 12 of 44 1 of 4 4 of 4 14 of 47 3 of 5 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 12, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Big Brady thinks Chris Daukaus is the more skilled striker and hits harder. He criticizes Parker Porter's lack of fight shape and believes Daukaus will knock him out in the first round. He notes both have been knocked out before but favors Daukaus' power.

first round knockout
"i'm going to pick christopher dawkins to get a first round knockout"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Parker Porter

Daniel Levi picks Parker Porter. He notes that Chris Daukaus is not as talented as his brother Kyle, and that Porter is the bigger, more physical fighter. He expects Porter to use his size and power to get takedowns and control the fight. He also mentions that Daukaus has been knocked out before and that Porter's game plan is straightforward.

Porter by decision or TKO; Daukaus is the less talented brother; Porter's size advantage
"i'm gonna go with parker porter and i hope he gets on the mic and calls out jon jones"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 9, 2020 (6 days before fight)
Parker Porter

The MMA Guru picks Parker Porter based on experience, noting that Porter has fought higher-level competition outside the UFC, including Gabriel Gonzaga. He dismisses both fighters as unskilled but believes Porter's experience on short notice gives him the edge.

"i'm gonna be going with parker porter he's got more experience and i just think that's going to be a good factor to have on a short notice heavyweight bout"
Shamil Abdurakhimov - Fight History
LOSS vs Jailton Almeida
TKO (punches) R2 2:56 · UFC 283: Teixeira vs. Hill · Jan 21, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jailton Almeida 0 1 of 1 100% 3 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 45 of 57 78% 89 of 110 3 of 5 60% 0 0 7:28
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jailton Almeida 0 1 of 1 100% 3 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 14 of 17 82% 25 of 31 2 of 3 66% 0 0 4:45
2 Jailton Almeida 0 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 31 of 40 77% 64 of 79 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:43
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jailton Almeida 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Shamil Abdurakhimov 45 of 57 78% 44 of 55 0 of 0 1 of 2 1 of 5 0 of 0 44 of 52
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jailton Almeida 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Shamil Abdurakhimov 14 of 17 82% 14 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 14 of 15
2 Jailton Almeida 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0
Shamil Abdurakhimov 31 of 40 77% 30 of 38 0 of 0 1 of 2 1 of 3 0 of 0 30 of 37
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 16, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Jailton Almeida

Big Brady is extremely confident in Almeida, calling him the biggest favorite on the card. He notes Abdurakhimov has been pulled out of fights repeatedly and is being fed to Almeida. He expects Almeida to take the fight down and finish in the first round, similar to Curtis Blaydes' win over Abdurakhimov but earlier. He says you can't even think about picking Shamil.

first round TKO
"you can't pick Shamil here you can't even think about picking Shamil here it would be a massive upset a massive massive upset give me Charlton gelatin I'll say first round TKO"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jan 18, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jailton Almeida

Cody picks Jailton Almeida confidently, expecting him to take down and smash Abdurakhimov. He notes Almeida's grappling is elite and Abdurakhimov's takedown defense is poor. He mentions Almeida's size disadvantage but thinks his skills overcome it. He says Almeida will win inside the distance, likely by submission. He acknowledges the -900 line is scary but thinks Almeida is the real deal.

considers over 1.5 rounds at +275; mentions Almeida inside the distance props
"I feel like gelatin rolls him up like I don't know that I would say he's minus 900 because again heavyweights heavyweights be heavyweights don't want to go down that road like I get it"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jan 19, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Jailton Almeida

Connor agrees, calling Almeida a great athlete with tremendous skill. He notes Abdurakhimov has some trickiness but lacks durability and speed. Almeida should win easily, likely by submission.

"Almeida is a great athlete in stupendous condition and a tremendously skilled wrestler and grappler."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jan 18, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jailton Almeida

Paul picks Jailton Almeida, noting his grappling and power. He says Almeida will take down and finish Abdurakhimov. He mentions Abdurakhimov's recent losses and poor takedown defense. He thinks Almeida is a future champion at 205 but is dominating heavyweights. He says Almeida inside the distance is a good bet.

mentions Almeida inside the distance; says Almeida by submission is -175
"I got all made I'll chase a better price but going on made it inside the distance I'm made of my submission"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 17, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Jailton Almeida

The Guru is very confident in Almeida, calling him a 'roid monster' and noting his dominant grappling. He points out that Abdurakhimov is 41, inactive, and coming off a KO loss to Pavlovich. Almeida outgrappled a Dagestani on the contender series and has been competing in grappling tournaments. The Guru predicts a first-round submission by naked choke, calling it a walkover.

submission in first round
"I reckon he's going to win this one via naked choke in the first round again I think this is going to be a walkover for jail tonight made her he's on the source"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jan 19, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Jailton Almeida

Zane picks Almeida confidently, noting his athleticism, wrestling, and grappling are far superior. Abdurakhimov is shop-worn, lacks durability, and is too passive. Almeida should get a takedown and dominate.

Fight doesn't go to decision -1200, Almeida inside distance -550, Almeida by submission -165
"You just have to assume that an athlete like Almeida can literally fumble his way through that dangerous range, eat whatever he's got to eat, get his hands on Shamil and ragdoll him."
TKO (punches) R1 4:03 · UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall · Mar 19, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sergei Pavlovich 0 17 of 34 50% 17 of 34 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Shamil Abdurakhimov 1 21 of 47 44% 22 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sergei Pavlovich 0 17 of 34 50% 17 of 34 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Shamil Abdurakhimov 1 21 of 47 44% 22 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sergei Pavlovich 17 of 34 50% 4 of 16 4 of 5 9 of 13 17 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
Shamil Abdurakhimov 21 of 47 44% 21 of 46 0 of 1 0 of 0 6 of 22 4 of 8 11 of 17
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sergei Pavlovich 17 of 34 50% 4 of 16 4 of 5 9 of 13 17 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
Shamil Abdurakhimov 21 of 47 44% 21 of 46 0 of 1 0 of 0 6 of 22 4 of 8 11 of 17
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Sergei Pavlovich

Round 1
The lone fight without a representative or fan-favorite from the region is an all-Russia battle that total 512 pounds of heavyweight in the cage, not counting referee Dan Movahedi. Abdurakhimov (20-6, 5-4 UFC) and Pavlovich (14-1, 2-1 UFC) will throw down in hopes of keeping their UFC records above .500, but only one will keep that positive record after this fight barring a draw or wacky result. The countrymen touch gloves while the crowd does not appear overly interested in this matchup, and the first strike comes from Abdurakhimov in the form of a light low kick. The pace is very slow early, with only a few leg kicks coming from “Abrek,” and the fans are letting them know. They both wing single punches and are well off the mark, and the tentative staring contest continues until they push out jabs at the same time. Pavlovich counters a leg kick with a straight right hand down the pipe, but it does not have much on it and Abdurakhimov pays it no mind. Abdurakhimov goes for a leg kick, and suddenly Pavlovich springs into action, letting loose with a salvo of punches that knock Abdurakhimov’s head around. Abdurakhimov gathers himself, circles away and dodges an overhand right, and appears no worse for wear. “Abrek” ducks in, and he meets an uppercut on the way in, while still managing to connect with a right hook. They trade jabs, and Pavlovich just misses with a swinging right. Abdurakhimov crashes forward for a takedown entry, and Pavlovich is a stone wall and he stops it in its tracks. Pavlovich measures his left hand out, only to get warned for outstretched fingers, and Abdurakhimov goes back to his slow rhythm of a leg kick every so often.
Out of nowhere, Pavlovich leans forward and rips a shovel uppercut out of the realm of “Mortal Kombat,” knocking Abdurakhimov clean off his feet. Abdurakhimov turns to his knees after hitting the ground, and he turtles up as Pavlovich tries to finish the job with hammerfists. Several blows land to the back of Abdurakhimov’s head, and Movahedi warns Abdurakhimov to keep moving, all while Pavlovich rains down hammers. As Abdurakhimov is about to get back up, Movahedi intervenes to stop the fight, leading “Abrek” to immediately protest what seems to be a premature stoppage.
There is nothing more he can complain about because the fight is over, and Pavlovich strides off to celebrate his victory in his first appearance since 2019.

The Official Result
Sergei Pavlovich def. Shamil Abdurakhimov R1 4:03 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Sergei Pavlovich

Angelo picks Sergei Pavlovich to win by knockout, assuming he is the same fighter as before his two-year layoff. He notes that Pavlovich has great power and speed, and trusts his chin. He thinks Abdurakhimov will look to wrestle but will struggle to keep Pavlovich down, leading to a knockout. He advises against betting due to the layoff.

prediction: wins by knockout; advice: don't bet
"one of these heavyweights has not fought in two full years this is not the type of fight that you want to take your hard-earned money and throw it down on"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Sergei Pavlovich

Big Brady picks Sergei Pavlovich to win by first-round knockout. He notes Pavlovich is 11 years younger, has an eight-inch reach advantage, and the fight will stay standing. He believes Shamil Abdurakhimov has taken a lot of damage recently and is 40 years old with health issues. Brady expects Pavlovich to knock him out early.

first round knockout
"i think he does knock out chamill in the first round here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 16, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Sergei Pavlovich

Cody picks Pavlovich, citing his power and Abdurakhimov's age and decline. He thinks Pavlovich's layoff is a concern but believes his power will be too much. He notes Abdurakhimov has been knocked out by lesser fighters and Pavlovich should finish early.

"i got sergey here"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 17, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sergei Pavlovich

Daniel Levi picks Sergei Pavlovich to win by knockout inside the distance. He notes Pavlovich's age advantage (29 vs 40), reach advantage (8 inches), and recent KO wins, while Abdurakhimov has taken brutal beatings in his last two fights. Levi acknowledges the inactivity concern for Pavlovich but believes if he's motivated, he will finish the older fighter. He also mentions that Abdurakhimov's durability has been questioned.

Inside the distance feels like the bet
"give me sergey pavlovic to come out here and knock on shamila abdulrah came off inside the distance feels like the bet"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Mar 16, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Sergei Pavlovich

Pavlovich has power and speed, but his wins over Marcelo Golm and Maurice Greene aren't convincing. Abdurakhimov is disciplined and has decent knockout power, plus a grappling advantage if the fight goes long. Pavlovich in round one at -105 is the best bet, as he tends to finish early. If the fight stretches, Abdurakhimov could surprise. I'm picking Pavlovich via first-round KO, but I can't get behind the -300 line.

Pavlovich in round 1 (-105); Abdurakhimov via decision (+500)
"I will still pick Pavlovic to win this fight but I just can't get behind those odds."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 16, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Sergei Pavlovich

Paul picks Pavlovich, emphasizing his power and Abdurakhimov's lack of durability. He thinks the layoff is a red flag but believes Pavlovich's youth and training at Eagles MMA will help. He notes the price is high but expects a first-round KO.

"i would say that this seriously favors pavlovic"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Sergei Pavlovich

The Guru picks Sergei Pavlovich, impressed by his physical attributes (84-inch reach, 6'2"). He notes Abdurakhimov has been KO'd multiple times and taken damage. He believes Pavlovich's power and speed will be too much, predicting a first-round KO. He compares Pavlovich favorably to Shamil and thinks he has real potential in the heavyweight division.

first round KO
"i am going to go have sergey pavlovich here... i'm going to call a first round ko for him"
LOSS vs Chris Daukaus
TKO (punches and elbows) R2 1:23 · UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega · Sep 25, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Chris Daukaus 0 23 of 63 36% 23 of 63 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Shamil Abdurakhimov 2 38 of 93 40% 38 of 93 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:48
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Chris Daukaus 0 19 of 47 40% 19 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Shamil Abdurakhimov 1 28 of 65 43% 28 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:37
2 Chris Daukaus 0 4 of 16 25% 4 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Shamil Abdurakhimov 1 10 of 28 35% 10 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Chris Daukaus 23 of 63 36% 13 of 48 6 of 11 4 of 4 22 of 62 1 of 1 0 of 0
Shamil Abdurakhimov 38 of 93 40% 34 of 88 2 of 3 2 of 2 18 of 58 2 of 5 18 of 30
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Chris Daukaus 19 of 47 40% 9 of 32 6 of 11 4 of 4 18 of 46 1 of 1 0 of 0
Shamil Abdurakhimov 28 of 65 43% 25 of 62 1 of 1 2 of 2 12 of 39 2 of 5 14 of 21
2 Chris Daukaus 4 of 16 25% 4 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
Shamil Abdurakhimov 10 of 28 35% 9 of 26 1 of 2 0 of 0 6 of 19 0 of 0 4 of 9
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Angelo picks Daukaus, citing his speed, technical boxing, and combination striking. He notes that Abdurakhimov has more power but is less clean and hasn't fought in two years. Angelo believes Daukaus will use his speed and angles to put Abdurakhimov away, though he acknowledges the unknown of Daukaus' takedown defense.

Angelo likes Daukaus at $8,000 in DraftKings and suggests a moneyline bet or inside the distance. He also mentions the line has moved to -210 and recommends inside the distance decision no action at -170.
"Chris Dawkins wins this"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Big Brady picks Chris Daukaus to win by first-round knockout. He notes that Shamil Abdurakhimov is 40 years old, has a two-year layoff, and has health issues, while Daukaus has improved significantly and has power. He believes Daukaus will stuff takedowns and land a knockout.

first round knockout
"give me chris dawkins to win and chris stock is to get another first round at knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 23, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Cody picks Daukaus, citing his speed advantage, youth, and recent improvements. He notes Abdurakhimov is 40, hasn't fought in two years, and was throttled by Blaydes. He expects Daukaus to finish him, possibly inside the distance.

Daukaus inside the distance (+100)
"i expect uh darkest to get the job done"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Daniel Levi picks Chris Daukaus, citing his fast hands for a heavyweight and his black belt in jiu-jitsu. He notes that Daukaus has finished opponents quickly but has been finished himself when fights go past the first round. Levi is curious to see how Daukaus handles the second round but believes his speed and momentum will be enough against Shamil Abdurakhimov, who has been out for a while.

"i gotta go with chris dawkis the age gap the the speed the momentum all that"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Jacob picks Daukaus, calling him a real deal heavyweight prospect. He notes that Abdurakhimov's wrestling is not effective and that Daukaus has a ton of first-round finishes. Jacob believes this is a setup win for Daukaus and expects a finish.

Jacob likes Daukaus by KO/TKO at +120 and plans to include him in DraftKings lineup. He calls it a 'quadruple lock of the week' and mentions knockout Kings.
"Chris Dawkins honestly is a real deal Prodigy in the heavyweight Division"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 25, 2021 (fight day)
Chris Daukaus

The host picks Chris Daukaus by first-round knockout. He believes Daukaus' striking is improving fight by fight and his speed and movement will keep Abdurakhimov at bay. He expects Daukaus to land crisp straight shots down the middle and eventually find the knockout blow. He notes that Abdurakhimov has the grappling advantage but Daukaus' striking is too good to fade.

"official prediction for this fight will be darkest and i'm going to take him to one by first round knockout"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Sep 23, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Paul picks Daukaus, noting his speed, boxing advantage, and youth. He mentions Abdurakhimov's age, layoff, and recent loss. He expects Daukaus to win but is unsure about the over/under rounds.

"i think dog is just dances around shamil um and honestly chamill is basically uh almost on the level with like olynyk at this point"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 19, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

The MMA Guru picks Chris Daukaus over Shamil Abdurakhimov, citing Daukaus' speed and power, and Abdurakhimov's two-year layoff and history of being knocked out. He notes that Daukaus showed good takedown defense against Alexei Oleinik and is a fast starter. He expects Abdurakhimov to be hesitant early due to ring rust, and Daukaus to land a counter blow and finish with a TKO in the first round.

first round tko
"i'm going to be going with chris dalcause here by first round tko over shimila abdurakimov"
LOSS vs Curtis Blaydes
TKO (elbow and punches) R2 2:22 · UFC 242: Khabib vs. Poirier · Sep 07, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Curtis Blaydes 0 25 of 43 58% 46 of 74 5 of 5 100% 0 0 6:08
Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 3 of 8 37% 3 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Curtis Blaydes 0 12 of 24 50% 25 of 43 4 of 4 100% 0 0 4:02
Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 1 of 5 20% 1 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Curtis Blaydes 0 13 of 19 68% 21 of 31 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:06
Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 2 of 3 66% 2 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Curtis Blaydes 25 of 43 58% 23 of 41 1 of 1 1 of 1 2 of 10 0 of 0 23 of 33
Shamil Abdurakhimov 3 of 8 37% 3 of 7 0 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Curtis Blaydes 12 of 24 50% 10 of 22 1 of 1 1 of 1 2 of 7 0 of 0 10 of 17
Shamil Abdurakhimov 1 of 5 20% 1 of 4 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Curtis Blaydes 13 of 19 68% 13 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 3 0 of 0 13 of 16
Shamil Abdurakhimov 2 of 3 66% 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
WIN vs Marcin Tybura
TKO (punches) R2 3:15 · UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Oleinik · Apr 20, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 28 of 70 40% 28 of 70 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Marcin Tybura 1 36 of 87 41% 36 of 87 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 14 of 36 38% 14 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Marcin Tybura 0 19 of 53 35% 19 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 14 of 34 41% 14 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Marcin Tybura 1 17 of 34 50% 17 of 34 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Shamil Abdurakhimov 28 of 70 40% 17 of 58 6 of 7 5 of 5 26 of 65 2 of 5 0 of 0
Marcin Tybura 36 of 87 41% 24 of 72 10 of 13 2 of 2 26 of 74 10 of 13 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Shamil Abdurakhimov 14 of 36 38% 10 of 31 2 of 3 2 of 2 14 of 36 0 of 0 0 of 0
Marcin Tybura 19 of 53 35% 11 of 43 6 of 8 2 of 2 14 of 47 5 of 6 0 of 0
2 Shamil Abdurakhimov 14 of 34 41% 7 of 27 4 of 4 3 of 3 12 of 29 2 of 5 0 of 0
Marcin Tybura 17 of 34 50% 13 of 29 4 of 5 0 of 0 12 of 27 5 of 7 0 of 0
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Oleinik · Sep 15, 2018
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 18 of 58 31% 27 of 71 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:19
Andrei Arlovski 0 32 of 70 45% 67 of 108 2 of 4 50% 0 0 3:25
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 9 of 22 40% 11 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 0 5 of 16 31% 25 of 38 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:00
2 Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 5 of 17 29% 9 of 22 2 of 2 100% 0 0 0:19
Andrei Arlovski 0 16 of 23 69% 30 of 38 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:25
3 Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 4 of 19 21% 7 of 22 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 0 11 of 31 35% 12 of 32 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Shamil Abdurakhimov 18 of 58 31% 8 of 45 6 of 9 4 of 4 9 of 39 6 of 13 3 of 6
Andrei Arlovski 32 of 70 45% 19 of 50 9 of 16 4 of 4 12 of 41 6 of 11 14 of 18
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Shamil Abdurakhimov 9 of 22 40% 3 of 16 3 of 3 3 of 3 4 of 11 3 of 7 2 of 4
Andrei Arlovski 5 of 16 31% 3 of 13 2 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 6 2 of 4 2 of 6
2 Shamil Abdurakhimov 5 of 17 29% 2 of 13 2 of 3 1 of 1 2 of 11 2 of 4 1 of 2
Andrei Arlovski 16 of 23 69% 12 of 17 3 of 5 1 of 1 2 of 7 2 of 4 12 of 12
3 Shamil Abdurakhimov 4 of 19 21% 3 of 16 1 of 3 0 of 0 3 of 17 1 of 2 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 11 of 31 35% 4 of 20 4 of 8 3 of 3 9 of 28 2 of 3 0 of 0
WIN vs Chase Sherman
KO (punch) R1 1:24 · UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum · Nov 25, 2017
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 5 of 13 38% 5 of 13 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Chase Sherman 1 6 of 10 60% 6 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 5 of 13 38% 5 of 13 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Chase Sherman 1 6 of 10 60% 6 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Shamil Abdurakhimov 5 of 13 38% 4 of 12 0 of 0 1 of 1 5 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
Chase Sherman 6 of 10 60% 5 of 8 1 of 2 0 of 0 6 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Shamil Abdurakhimov 5 of 13 38% 4 of 12 0 of 0 1 of 1 5 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
Chase Sherman 6 of 10 60% 5 of 8 1 of 2 0 of 0 6 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
LOSS vs Derrick Lewis
TKO (punches) R4 3:42 · UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Abdurakhimov · Dec 09, 2016
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Derrick Lewis 0 39 of 90 43% 46 of 97 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:42
Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 15 of 37 40% 77 of 106 4 of 11 36% 1 0 7:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Derrick Lewis 0 1 of 7 14% 3 of 9 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:23
Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 4 of 11 36% 23 of 31 1 of 5 20% 1 0 2:37
2 Derrick Lewis 0 7 of 14 50% 9 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 9 of 11 81% 43 of 47 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:00
3 Derrick Lewis 0 4 of 22 18% 6 of 24 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:09
Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 1 of 8 12% 8 of 19 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:18
4 Derrick Lewis 0 27 of 47 57% 28 of 48 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:10
Shamil Abdurakhimov 0 1 of 7 14% 3 of 9 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:35
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Derrick Lewis 39 of 90 43% 32 of 81 5 of 7 2 of 2 8 of 46 4 of 7 27 of 37
Shamil Abdurakhimov 15 of 37 40% 5 of 23 5 of 6 5 of 8 5 of 23 5 of 7 5 of 7
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Derrick Lewis 1 of 7 14% 0 of 5 0 of 1 1 of 1 1 of 6 0 of 1 0 of 0
Shamil Abdurakhimov 4 of 11 36% 2 of 8 0 of 0 2 of 3 0 of 5 3 of 4 1 of 2
2 Derrick Lewis 7 of 14 50% 4 of 11 2 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 6 2 of 4 3 of 4
Shamil Abdurakhimov 9 of 11 81% 2 of 4 5 of 5 2 of 2 4 of 4 1 of 2 4 of 5
3 Derrick Lewis 4 of 22 18% 3 of 20 1 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0
Shamil Abdurakhimov 1 of 8 12% 0 of 6 0 of 0 1 of 2 1 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
4 Derrick Lewis 27 of 47 57% 25 of 45 2 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 12 2 of 2 24 of 33
Shamil Abdurakhimov 1 of 7 14% 1 of 5 0 of 1 0 of 1 0 of 6 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Derrick Lewis vs. Shamil Abdurakhimov

Round 1
Referee Dan Miragliotta is the third man in the cage for tonight's heavyweight main event. Lewis starts out in the center of the cage, slowly pressing outward toward Abdurakhimov, who cuts short angles around the perimeter. Abdurakhimov catches hold of Lewis' first kick and takes the "Black Beast" to the ground in the center of the cage. Straight to side control goes Abdurakhimov, leaning left to right across Lewis' body to frame up a keylock. Lewis rolls to his left, instantly relieving pressure on the arm and allowing him to stand up. Abdurakhimov stays with him, holding a rear waistlock until he's able to push Lewis against the fence. Lewis throws a knee, has the leg caught but keeps his balance and stays standing, while Abdurakhimov goes back to muscling him against the wall. Abdurakhimov gets double underhooks as they hit the midway point of round one, but Lewis pushes him away with a forearm to the face. With 90 seconds on the clock, Lewis initiates a clinch on the fence, but he's quickly spun around by Abdurakhimov. The big men split with one minute on the clock, but Abdurakhimov comes back for a late takedown and finishes the round in full mount.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Abdurakhimov
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Abdurakhimov
Mike Sloan scores the round 10-9 Abdurakhimov

Round 2
Both men throw big right hands at the start of round two, and they wind up clinching with over-unders in the center of the cage. Lewis gives Abdurakhimov a shot to the body before the Russian presses him against the fence. Referee Miragliotta warns Abdurakhimov for grabbing the fence behind Lewis' back, and seconds later, Lewis nearly tosses Abdurakhimov to the side. The ref separates the fighters and brings them back to the center after a few seconds of ineffective clinching. Lewis slings a big right hand but it's deflected by the arms of Abdurakhimov as he steps inside to clinch again with three minutes left. Lewis breaks away, nearly slips to the ground throwing a high kick, now walks forward on Abdurakhimov once again. Lewis lands a body kick, but it's caught by Abdurakhimov and converted to another takedown. Abdurakhimov works from Lewis' wide open guard with 90 seconds on the clock, but there's not much happening on the ground, drawing boos from the Albany crowd. Lewis gets hold of a leg and drops back to try a heel hook; Abdurakhimov escapes and latches onto Lewis' left leg as he stands. Lewis hops backward to the fence, socking Abdurakhimov in the face with a few punches before ultimately being taken down again in the closing seconds.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Abdurakhimov
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Abdurakhimov
Mike Sloan scores the round 10-9 Abdurakhimov

Round 3
Lewis steps in with a knee, caught by Abdurakhimov and turned into another takedown. This time, Lewis springs back to his feet and starts firing punches at Abdurakhimov, keeping the Russian on the outside through the first minute of the round. Abdurakhimov shoots an ugly shot, gets pushed away and clipped by an uppercut from Lewis, who steps back to reset in the center of the cage. Lewis is walking in slow, small steps, not expending a lot of energy as he follows Abdurakhimov around the perimeter. This time, it's Lewis who ducks inside, pushes Abdurakhimov to the fence and drops for a double-leg. Abdurakhimov easily blocks the takedown attempt and circles away. Abdurakhimov whiffs on a spinning backfist, dodges Lewis' counter right hand and goes low to drive "The Black Beast" back to the canvas. Under two minutes left in the round as Abdurakhimov works from Lewis' closed guard. After almost a minute of inactivity, referee Miragliotta stands up the fighters. Lewis plods forward slowly as boos rain down again; Abdurakhimov, who continues to back away, receives a verbal warning from the referee for failing to engage.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Lewis
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-10
Mike Sloan scores the round 10-9 Abdurakhimov

Round 4
Lewis tries to go upstairs with a left high kick, but his leg is grabbed by Abdurakhimov once again. The heavyweights tangle up on the fence for a few seconds, then Lewis snuffs out an Abdurakhimov double-leg shot. Abdurakhimov resets and then comes right back to hold Lewis on the wall. Almost immediately, referee Miragliotta tells the fighters to "get busy," and Abdurakhimov obliges by breaking off the clinch with an elbow strike. Halfway through the round, Lewis pulls down Abdurakhimov's head in the Thai clinch and partially lands with a knee. Lewis changes levels and scores a takedown at the fence, and suddenly it's Abdurakhimov on his back, covering up as Lewis postures up to land big right hands. Lewis goes knee-on-belly, then over to full mount; Abdurakhimov bucks and rolls underneath, trying to escape, but Lewis is relentless and smashes away with punches until the referee stops the fight.

The Official Result
Derrick Lewis def. Shamil Abdurakhimov via TKO (Punches) R4 3:42
Expert Picks (8)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Angelo picks Daukaus, citing his speed, technical boxing, and combination striking. He notes that Abdurakhimov has more power but is less clean and hasn't fought in two years. Angelo believes Daukaus will use his speed and angles to put Abdurakhimov away, though he acknowledges the unknown of Daukaus' takedown defense.

Angelo likes Daukaus at $8,000 in DraftKings and suggests a moneyline bet or inside the distance. He also mentions the line has moved to -210 and recommends inside the distance decision no action at -170.
"Chris Dawkins wins this"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Big Brady picks Chris Daukaus to win by first-round knockout. He notes that Shamil Abdurakhimov is 40 years old, has a two-year layoff, and has health issues, while Daukaus has improved significantly and has power. He believes Daukaus will stuff takedowns and land a knockout.

first round knockout
"give me chris dawkins to win and chris stock is to get another first round at knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 23, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Cody picks Daukaus, citing his speed advantage, youth, and recent improvements. He notes Abdurakhimov is 40, hasn't fought in two years, and was throttled by Blaydes. He expects Daukaus to finish him, possibly inside the distance.

Daukaus inside the distance (+100)
"i expect uh darkest to get the job done"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Daniel Levi picks Chris Daukaus, citing his fast hands for a heavyweight and his black belt in jiu-jitsu. He notes that Daukaus has finished opponents quickly but has been finished himself when fights go past the first round. Levi is curious to see how Daukaus handles the second round but believes his speed and momentum will be enough against Shamil Abdurakhimov, who has been out for a while.

"i gotta go with chris dawkis the age gap the the speed the momentum all that"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Jacob picks Daukaus, calling him a real deal heavyweight prospect. He notes that Abdurakhimov's wrestling is not effective and that Daukaus has a ton of first-round finishes. Jacob believes this is a setup win for Daukaus and expects a finish.

Jacob likes Daukaus by KO/TKO at +120 and plans to include him in DraftKings lineup. He calls it a 'quadruple lock of the week' and mentions knockout Kings.
"Chris Dawkins honestly is a real deal Prodigy in the heavyweight Division"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 25, 2021 (fight day)
Chris Daukaus

The host picks Chris Daukaus by first-round knockout. He believes Daukaus' striking is improving fight by fight and his speed and movement will keep Abdurakhimov at bay. He expects Daukaus to land crisp straight shots down the middle and eventually find the knockout blow. He notes that Abdurakhimov has the grappling advantage but Daukaus' striking is too good to fade.

"official prediction for this fight will be darkest and i'm going to take him to one by first round knockout"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Sep 23, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

Paul picks Daukaus, noting his speed, boxing advantage, and youth. He mentions Abdurakhimov's age, layoff, and recent loss. He expects Daukaus to win but is unsure about the over/under rounds.

"i think dog is just dances around shamil um and honestly chamill is basically uh almost on the level with like olynyk at this point"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 19, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Chris Daukaus

The MMA Guru picks Chris Daukaus over Shamil Abdurakhimov, citing Daukaus' speed and power, and Abdurakhimov's two-year layoff and history of being knocked out. He notes that Daukaus showed good takedown defense against Alexei Oleinik and is a fast starter. He expects Abdurakhimov to be hesitant early due to ring rust, and Daukaus to land a counter blow and finish with a TKO in the first round.

first round tko
"i'm going to be going with chris dalcause here by first round tko over shimila abdurakimov"