Career Averages - Josh Hokit
Career Averages - Derrick Lewis
Josh Hokit
Derrick Lewis
Josh Hokit - Fight History
AJ does not make a clear pick for this fight. He mentions that Hokit will likely wrestle Derrick Lewis, but does not state a winner.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curtis Blaydes | 0 | 174 of 302 | 57% | 214 of 345 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 | 0 | 2:05 |
| Josh Hokit | 0 | 177 of 293 | 60% | 181 of 298 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:31 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Curtis Blaydes | 0 | 58 of 108 | 53% | 77 of 128 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:05 |
| Josh Hokit | 0 | 41 of 80 | 51% | 41 of 80 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Curtis Blaydes | 0 | 56 of 91 | 61% | 69 of 106 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Josh Hokit | 0 | 54 of 86 | 62% | 55 of 87 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:20 | |
| 3 | Curtis Blaydes | 0 | 60 of 103 | 58% | 68 of 111 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Josh Hokit | 0 | 82 of 127 | 64% | 85 of 131 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curtis Blaydes | 174 of 302 | 57% | 151 of 276 | 17 of 19 | 6 of 7 | 112 of 226 | 60 of 73 | 2 of 3 |
| Josh Hokit | 177 of 293 | 60% | 164 of 278 | 13 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 146 of 252 | 31 of 41 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Curtis Blaydes | 58 of 108 | 53% | 54 of 104 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 31 of 76 | 25 of 29 | 2 of 3 |
| Josh Hokit | 41 of 80 | 51% | 41 of 80 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 37 of 73 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Curtis Blaydes | 56 of 91 | 61% | 42 of 77 | 12 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 31 of 62 | 25 of 29 | 0 of 0 |
| Josh Hokit | 54 of 86 | 62% | 49 of 80 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 46 of 75 | 8 of 11 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Curtis Blaydes | 60 of 103 | 58% | 55 of 95 | 2 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 50 of 88 | 10 of 15 | 0 of 0 |
| Josh Hokit | 82 of 127 | 64% | 74 of 118 | 8 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 63 of 104 | 19 of 23 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Blaydes (-142), Hokit (+120)
Round 1
After alternating wins and losses the last few years, the UFC heavyweight takedown leader Blaydes (19-5, 1 NC; 14-5, 1 NC UFC) is at a real crossroads at the age of 35. While he still has plenty of time left on the clock, his five knockout losses paint a picture of a beard that is more than willing to crack. Rather than face another top-five-level adversary, he goes way down the lineup to welcome the brash, outspoken Hokit (8-0, 2-0 UFC) to the elite of the division. It’s sink or swim for “The Incredible Hok,” who put his name in headlines this week not for his credentials but because of his antics at media day and the weigh-ins. Referee Herb Dean draws the charge for this heavyweight affair. With all the strange bad blood brewing between them, largely because of what Hokit had to say recently, there is no touch of gloves.
Hokit practically sprints out of his corner hurling a big right hand, and Blaydes ducks the first but takes the second right on the chin. Blaydes responds with a single-leg takedown attempt, and Hokit stuffs it and flicks him the middle finger. Hokit gets caught when going wild, and he wobbles and swings his way forward and staggers Blaydes and busts his nose to the side. Hokit is swinging with reckless abandon, hurting Blaydes a few times and gashing Blaydes open. Blaydes drops to his hands and posts off to stand up, and Hokit runs at him with his hands down punching him as hard as he can. Blaydes ties him up and drags him to the floor from behind, and he shells Hokit on the sides of the head until Hoki wall-walks by pulling his fingers in the fencing. Dean admonishes him for the foul, and Blaydes pulls him away from it to throw him down. Blaydes keeps hold of him and wears on him, and on his second effort, he drags Hokit to the floor. Hokit is breathing hard and still holding the fence and top of the cage, and Blaydes works him over from under the armpits and the backs of the thighs.
Blaydes transitions to a single, but he cannot get the leg to drag him down. Blaydes boxes Hokit up, who wanders away and flips Blaydes off again. Blaydes jabs and staggers Hokit, who is starting to fade and runs away. Hokit may be playing possum, but Blaydes lets him have it with a frenetic flurry of fists that rivals some of the craziest heavyweight action one could ever see. Blaydes jackhammers Hokit with uppercut after unanswered uppercut, batting Hokit’s head around like a piñata. Hokit hangs on for dear life while Blaydes slows himself down to not gas himself, and both men are sucking serious wind four minutes in. Blaydes punches Hokit in the stomach a few times until they separate, and Hokit once more displays his middle finger. Blaydes walks him down and knocks his mouthpiece out, shelling him with an uppercut and a vicious elbow. Hokit flips one more bird as the round ends, and he raises his arm in the air to drink in the cheers from the crowd. What a ludicrous round that was.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Blaydes
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Blaydes
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Blaydes
Round 2
Who has more left in the tank after a ridiculous five-minute sprint? Blaydes starts off landing first with a stiff right hand, and Hokit walks him down and busts him in the jaw with his own overhand right. Hokit has his hands low and just wants to brawl, drawing Blaydes into exchanges and stifling the first takedown shot from Blaydes. When he stands up, he flips Blaydes off. Blaydes sticks out his jab and follows one or two, while Hokit lumbers at him and cracks him with an uppercut. Hokit hurls back with a right hand that staggers Blaydes, who is bloodied and bruised but still in this fight. Hokit backs him to the fence and starts delivering fierce uppercuts until he is forced to tie up. Blaydes punches to break out of the clinch, and Hokit gets him back to the body with a right hand and a knee. Blaydes stuns him with a right, Hokit’s head wobbling around like a children’s play toy. Hokit still comes forward and is willing to trade, so Blaydes welcomes this and uppercuts him repeatedly to the chin and midsection.
Blaydes digs a few more to the body before they split up, and he gets knocked back with a one-two. Hokit follows with two more, and Blaydes is on baby deer legs slipping and stumbling across the Octagon. Hokit unleashes a fury and hurts Blaydes for the umpteenth time, and Blaydes is impossibly tough as he takes undefended shots. Blaydes rushes into action and connects with a long stretch of surprisingly powerful punches, and Hokit does not react well when receiving them but still has the wherewithal to keep trading. Hokit goes for a clinch, and Blaydes thanks him for this by elbowing him and driving him a number of uppercuts to the chest and stomach. Hokit hangs on while Blaydes keeps busting him in the chops with uppercuts, and it is Hokit who forces the separation and knees Blaydes flush in the face. Hokit gets off another knee to the belly, and he misses with an uppercut that would fell lesser men. Blaydes keeps to the clinch so he can offer uppercuts, and Hokit bashes him in the chin with a one-two and is met with an equally powerful one. Hokit dances back to his corner at the bell, middle finger waving, and this heavyweight slobberknocker is almost beyond description.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hokit
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Hokit
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Hokit
Round 3
Hokit raises his arm in the air to pump up the crowd, and when the last round begins, he strides forward to engage. He catches Blaydes a few times, only for Blaydes to rattle his bones with a right hand and a low kick. Blaydes dives after a takedown and falls to the side, so he fights his way back up and proceeds to bash Hokit with punches until they clinch up again. Blaydes uppercuts the torso, while Hokit uses his knees and an elbow once. Blaydes is inspired to us the same for his “Razor” elbows, and he beats Hokit to the punch with a quick one-two. The fighters go punch-for-punch, with Hokit causing further damage as his jab has completely transformed Blaydes into a bloody mess. Blaydes lumbers forward behind two hooks, only one landing, and Hokit gathers a head of steam and connects with a clean uppercut. Hokit keeps his jab going, only stopping when Blaydes racks him up with a right hand. Hokit closes in to land elbows, and Blaydes does the same when in range.
Hokit eats one to land one, and he strings to more together and a knee after it. Elbows are exchanged on the inside, and Hokit breaks off and puts three fists on Blaydes’ face in rapid succession. Blaydes stings Hokit and backs him off, but he does not have the gas tank to hurt him badly. Hokit lands twice, Blaydes closes in to strike him back, and uppercuts come flying from both sides. Blaydes darts out behind a right hand, and he is greeted by a trio of punches. Defense is at a premium while strike totals are off the charts for heavyweights, and Blaydes takes a hard look at the clock that now reads 45 seconds. Hokit does the advancing, hurling punches until Blaydes hits him back. Hokit gets in an elbow when they are up close, and he knees and tees off on Blaydes against the fencing. Blaydes swings back with every thing he has left, and incredibly, these two heavyweights have reached the final bell in what only be described as one of the craziest fights in the history of the division—rivaling the likes of Frye-Takayama and Hunt-Silva. Everyone can now breathe a sigh of relief after that torrid sprint of a battle is over, and these two men can use some oxygen after a sure-fire “Fight of the Year” frontrunner. No matter the victor, Hokit proved that at just nine fights into his professional career, he can hang with the best heavyweights in the world right now.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hokit (29-28 Hokit)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Hokit (29-28 Hokit)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Hokit (29-28 Hokit)
The Official Result
Josh Hokit def. Curtis Blaydes via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Curtis Blaydes, citing his experience and wrestling, though he notes Blaydes' poor chin and recent struggles. He is skeptical of Josh Hokit's level of competition and thinks Blaydes can survive early chaos and take over late. He stays away from betting due to the fight's unpredictability.
Big Brady is intrigued by Josh Barnett (Hokit) despite the massive step up in competition. He notes Blaydes has been knocked out five times and has stopped wrestling, while Barnett has shown pressure and power. He thinks Barnett could knock out Blaydes or get takedowns and ground-and-pound. He finds the line weird, expecting Blaydes to be a bigger favorite.
Cody also picks Hokit, emphasizing his athleticism, pace, and wrestling. He thinks Hokit's speed and pressure will overwhelm Blaydes, who has a history of knockout losses and is coming off a knee injury.
Connor picks Blaydes but is hesitant, noting that Blaydes has unlearned MMA by becoming overly technical and anxious. He points out that Hokit is a raw fighter with speed and power takedowns, but his striking is just bravado. Connor believes Blaydes should win by using his wrestling and pressure, but he worries that Blaydes' anxiety and tendency to overthink could lead to a loss. He says he won't be shocked if Blaydes loses, which is stupid for a fight like this.
Daniel Vreeland picks Josh Hokit as an underdog, citing Hokit's superior wrestling credentials, athleticism, and speed. He believes Blaydes' chin is compromised after multiple knockouts and that Hokit can catch him. However, he acknowledges the risk due to Blaydes' experience and reach, and is not as confident as his co-hosts.
Daniel is high on Hokit, comparing his style to a young Cain Velasquez. He thinks Blaydes is on the decline, chinny, and coming off a poor performance, while Hokit has better wrestling and faster hands.
The host believes Blaydes is a good bet because Hokit is an unknown who has never faced top competition, while Blaydes is arguably the best MMA grappler in the heavyweight division. He notes Hokit's striking looks flat and he lacks power, making it unlikely he can exploit Blaydes' weakness on the feet. Additionally, Hokit's cringey antics add pressure and performance anxiety, which historically few fighters handle well. He caps Blaydes at 60% chance of winning, providing value at the current odds.
James picks Blaydes due to his experience and ability to weather early pressure, expecting Hokit to fade after the first round. He acknowledges Hokit's potential but believes it's too soon for him.
Blaydes is a veteran with superior wrestling and experience. Hokit is a prospect but this is a massive step up in competition. Hokit's cardio is questionable after expending energy in previous fights. Blaydes can outwrestle and outpoint Hokit, and may even finish him in rounds 2 or 3. Hokit lacks the knockout power to threaten Blaydes, who only loses to elite power punchers.
Paul is very confident in Hokit, citing Blaydes' durability issues, knee injury, and Hokit's superior wrestling and pace. He believes Hokit will swarm Blaydes early and get a finish.
The MMA Guru picks Curtis Blaydes over Josh Hokit. He believes Blaydes is too composed and experienced, and Hokit's wins are over unranked heavyweights. He notes Blaydes moves well and has good grappling defense. He predicts a TKO in the second or third round, possibly catching Hokit coming in.
Zane picks Blaydes but shares Connor's hesitation, emphasizing Blaydes' psychological decline and tendency to avoid his strengths. He notes that Hokit is a mess but has speed and power, and if Blaydes doesn't wrestle, he could walk into a shot. Zane thinks Blaydes should easily out-grapple Hokit, but his anxiety and poor fight IQ make this a dangerous fight. He hopes for a motivated Blaydes but isn't confident.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Hokit | 0 | 37 of 57 | 64% | 71 of 97 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:47 |
| Denzel Freeman | 0 | 0 of 7 | 0% | 0 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Josh Hokit | 0 | 37 of 57 | 64% | 71 of 97 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:47 |
| Denzel Freeman | 0 | 0 of 7 | 0% | 0 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Hokit | 37 of 57 | 64% | 31 of 48 | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 31 | 9 of 11 | 11 of 15 |
| Denzel Freeman | 0 of 7 | 0% | 0 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Josh Hokit | 37 of 57 | 64% | 31 of 48 | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 31 | 9 of 11 | 11 of 15 |
| Denzel Freeman | 0 of 7 | 0% | 0 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Hokit (-245), Freeman (+200)
Round 1
It’s an all-comic showdown as Marvel takes on DC in this heavyweight prelim. “The Incredible Hok” Hokit (7-0, 1-0 UFC) and his 100% finish rate aim to smash anyone getting in his way. A couple years older but having show the ability to go three full rounds if necessary, “Luke Fox” Freeman (7-1, 1-0 UFC) will hoist the mantle of Batwing. The big men will receive oversight from referee Mark Smith, who will keep things on the up-and-up between these destructive forces.
They do not touch gloves, as Hokit instead wants to bull-rush his opponent and dive after his legs for a takedown. Hokit lifts his man off the ground and gingerly deposits him to the mat, and he grazes the forehead with an elbow. Freeman scrambles to turn to his knees, and Hokit knees him in the side before wrenching him face-first to the mat. Freeman posts off his hands with Hokit behind him, and “The Incredible Hok” gets off a punch or two before Freeman scoots his way to the fence. Hokit hands on from behind but cannot keep Freeman down, although he trips his inside leg in hopes of grounding “Luke Fox” again. Freeman shoves him away and they reset in striking range. Hokit flicks out a jab that makes Freeman react poorly, and he probes the body with the front of his foot. Backing off Freeman with his big-swinging fists, Hokit walks his man down and hammers him with punches to the head and midsection. Freeman swings back valiantly, but Hokit drills him with a hard uppercut that drops him down to the floor.
Hokit briefly considers threatening with a choke from behind, but he elects to ground-and-pound the Kill Cliff FC fighter. Freeman keeps twisting and turning to show he is still intelligently defending himself and moving, and Hokit takes his foot off the gas so he does not burn out his energy reserves. Freeman clings to his opponent’s wrist to stifle some of the beating, and he gets pulled down to the mat again when hoping to escape. Hokit begins to spank Freeman a few times to draw a reaction out of the crowd, and Freeman explodes to his feet and drapes his arm over the cage wall. Smith largely admonishes him for this, and Freeman twists around and shoots in for a desperate takedown. Hokit busts him in the chops with an uppercut and easily spins him around and decides to let Freeman up, because Freeman appears out of gas four-ish minutes in. Freeman once more stands, and Hokit lays into him with knees and punches.
Freeman turns tail and runs away, and he gets smacked with a kick on his shoulder on the way out. Freeman stumbles and falls to a knee with one second left, and Hokit flips him the middle finger. Smith determines that even though Hokit was nowhere near “Luke Fox,” Freeman had physically surrendered by dropping to a knee just before the bell sounded and steps in.
The stoppage is an odd one, as the last strike was an off-balance body kick that careened off Freeman’s upper arm and seemingly not a fight-ending blow. Nevertheless, the stoppage stands, in what will appear to be a technical knockout due to a retirement. This makes Hokit, who has built a little momentum as an undefeated finisher with a penchant for off-the-wall interviews, $25K wealthier, and he dons sunglasses and a bandana reminiscent of the pro wrestlers of old. He proceeds to deliver a similarly wrestling-inspired interview that will definitely put him on the map, one that needs to be seen to be believed.
The Official Result
Luke Hokit def. Denzel Freeman R1 4:59 via TKO (Retirement)
Angelo picks Josh Hokit, calling him a potential superstar with athleticism, speed, and power. He acknowledges Denzel Freeman's impressive highlights but notes his terrible UFC debut where he made noises instead of fighting. He expects Hokit's wrestling and forward pressure to be too much, though he warns the fight could be oddly competitive.
Big Brady leans Freeman despite his poor UFC debut, citing his striking and wrestling background. He thinks the line is inflated due to recency bias. He expects a striking fight since both are wrestlers, and Freeman has the edge on the feet. He predicts Freeman by decision, though he thinks the fight might be slow.
Cody leans toward Ian Freeman, citing his wrestling and durability. He notes Freeman's Greco-Roman background should help him stuff takedowns, and his striking is underrated. Cody believes Freeman can outwork Hokit if the fight goes past the first round, and likes the over 1.5 rounds prop.
Connor picks Freeman because he can grind out tough fights and has shown durability, never being knocked out. He notes that Hokit seems like a fighter who either wins instantly or melts down, and Freeman has experience in ugly, grindy fights. Connor is not confident but leans Freeman.
Daniel Vreeland picks Josh Hokit but is not confident. He notes that Hokit is a good prospect but needs to prove himself against better competition. Freeman is an awkward wrestler with a Greco background, which could neutralize Hokit's wrestling. Vreeland is curious to see how the fight plays out on the feet and whether Hokit can dominate on the ground.
James leans towards Freeman as an underdog, citing his better overall striking and value at plus odds. He notes Hokit has knockout power but Freeman's kicking and boxing are superior. However, he is not confident and plans to tape study more.
The host leans towards Hokit by TKO, citing his fight IQ and ability to push a pace. He acknowledges Freeman is more skilled but believes Hokit is the better fighter who will dig deeper. He suggests Freeman is a no-brainer dog shot due to his skill advantage, but picks Hokit to smother Freeman and finish in the second or third round.
Paul picks Josh Hokit but is not confident, noting Freeman's wrestling background and size advantage. He believes Hokit's athleticism and pressure could overwhelm Freeman, but worries about Hokit's cardio and inexperience. Paul prefers the over 1.5 rounds prop.
The MMA Guru picks Josh Hokit, calling him a 'blob destroyer' who finishes fights early. He contrasts Hokit's first-round TKOs with Denzel Freeman's forgettable debut, and believes Hokit will become a contender. He predicts a first-round finish.
Zane agrees with Connor, noting that Freeman has been in longer fights and has a decision win in his UFC debut, while Hokit's fights have been quick finishes. He thinks if it becomes a grindy fight, Freeman will win. Zane also notes Hokit is a good athlete but unproven in longer fights.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Hokit | 2 | 9 of 17 | 52% | 11 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
| Max Gimenis | 0 | 3 of 7 | 42% | 3 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Josh Hokit | 2 | 9 of 17 | 52% | 11 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
| Max Gimenis | 0 | 3 of 7 | 42% | 3 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Hokit | 9 of 17 | 52% | 9 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Max Gimenis | 3 of 7 | 42% | 0 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Josh Hokit | 9 of 17 | 52% | 9 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Max Gimenis | 3 of 7 | 42% | 0 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Hokit (-400); Gimenis (+300)
Round 1
Twelve wins, 11 finishes for these two debuting goliaths immediately put referee Mark Smith on notice as the prelims roll on. Hokit (6-0, 0-0 UFC) posts all of his triumphs within the distance, while Brazilian by way of Maryland Gimenis (6-1, 0-0 UFC) has heard the final bell once as a pro. While the previous pairing was one many expected would go 15 full minutes, most prognosticators predict the first round is where this one will start and conclude. Gimenis offers a glove touch, but Hokit wants to fight.
Hokit introduces himself with a big right hand, knocking Gimenis all the way back to the wall. Gimenis gathers his thoughts, bounces off and hammers the front leg with a kick.
Hokit walks through them and zings a right hand down the pipe that sets Gimenis down. Gimenis explodes back to his feet, and as soon as his back is up against the wall, Hokit laces a right hand behind the ear that separates Gimenis from his senses. Gimenis bounces back down to his knees, partially still with it, and Hokit lays into him with booming punches. As Hokit obliterates Gimenis, Gimenis falls back to hit the canvas and Smith waves the fight off.
Gimenis’ leg bends awkwardly back in shades of Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Mirko Filipovic, but thankfully he does not appear injured from it. He comes back to, and it’s all over. “The Incredible Hok” blew through him in a little under a minute and maintains his 100% first-round finish rate. To make the most of his screen time, Hokit drops the mic by dropping a mighty pro wrestling-inspired promo that ends with a reference to Chael Sonnen as he calls out Valter Walker.
The Official Result
Josh Hokit def. Max Gimenis R1 0:56 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo slightly leans Josh Hokit because he believes athleticism and early takedowns with ground-and-pound can overcome Max Gimenes' world-class jiu-jitsu. He is surprised by the heavy favorite odds (-425) for a UFC debutant with only six fights, and thinks the odds will tighten. He warns that if Hokit tries to control without striking, he could get swept or submitted.
Big Brady is not sold on Jimenez as an MMA fighter, noting he is primarily a grappler with poor wrestling and no striking. He believes Hokit should win easily due to his wrestling, cardio, and power. He predicts Hokit by first-round TKO, as Jimenez might roll for a leg and get pounded.
Cody picks Hokit, citing his wrestling, cardio, and athleticism. He thinks Gimenis will gas in the second round and Hokit will take over with chain wrestling.
Lucrative James picks Josh Hokit easily, noting he seems better everywhere. He admits he hasn't seen much tape on Max Gimenis but expects Hokit to finish him inside the first round. He plans to do more research later.
The host is high on Hokit, citing his grinding wrestling pace and high cardio as key advantages in the heavyweight division. He expects Hokit to make the fight look easy and eventually secure a second or third round TKO.
Paul picks Hokit, noting Gimenis's lack of MMA experience and poor striking defense. He thinks Hokit's wrestling will be too much.
The Guru picks Josh Hokit to win by second-round TKO. He expects Hokit's volume wrestling and pressure to overwhelm Max Gimenis after a feeling-out first round. He notes Gimenis's jiu-jitsu threat but believes Hokit's chain wrestling will neutralize it. He predicts a ground-and-pound finish late in round two.
Derrick Lewis - Fight History
AJ does not make a clear pick for this fight. He mentions that Hokit will likely wrestle Derrick Lewis, but does not state a winner.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waldo Cortes Acosta | 1 | 44 of 62 | 70% | 46 of 64 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:28 |
| Derrick Lewis | 0 | 8 of 43 | 18% | 8 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waldo Cortes Acosta | 0 | 12 of 16 | 75% | 14 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 |
| Derrick Lewis | 0 | 4 of 22 | 18% | 4 of 22 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Waldo Cortes Acosta | 1 | 32 of 46 | 69% | 32 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Derrick Lewis | 0 | 4 of 21 | 19% | 4 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waldo Cortes Acosta | 44 of 62 | 70% | 35 of 53 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 4 | 27 of 45 | 1 of 1 | 16 of 16 |
| Derrick Lewis | 8 of 43 | 18% | 6 of 37 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 1 | 8 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waldo Cortes Acosta | 12 of 16 | 75% | 7 of 11 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Derrick Lewis | 4 of 22 | 18% | 3 of 17 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 1 | 4 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Waldo Cortes Acosta | 32 of 46 | 69% | 28 of 42 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 30 | 1 of 1 | 15 of 15 |
| Derrick Lewis | 4 of 21 | 19% | 3 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cortes-Acosta (-355), Lewis (+280)
Round 1
Faces are about to get punched by fists the size of lunchboxes. Heavyweights ready and willing to inflict some serious damage will trade bungalows, and only one man expects to be standing when it is all said and done. Cortes-Acosta (16-2, 9-2 UFC) has momentum behind him as well as a six-year age advantage, but he has to throw down with Lewis (29-12, 1 NC; 20-10 UFC). Whether Lewis will suffer another defeat against a tough talent or spring yet another brutal upset knockout, we will know in the next 15 minutes or fewer. Referee Jason Herzog has donned his proverbial hard hat ahead of the mighty swings about to come. There is no plan for a glove touch.
Lewis says hello with a jumping front kick, and Cortes-Acosta easily swats it out of the air. Lewis then kicks low, and the Dominican ignores it and slowly walks down his opponent before kicking him back. Cortes-Acosta jabs with the ball of his foot to the stomach, and he aims a jab to the same spot before leaning back to dodge a left hook. Lewis pitches a jumping head kick that bangs into the guard, and Cortes-Acosta looks surprised that the relative elder statesman and 264-pounder can get his leg up there repeatedly. Cortes-Acosta does not stick his face in the hornet’s nest, instead peeking out behind his jab occasionally. The lack of activity has made fans immediately restless, so Lewis calms them briefly with a failed head kick while touching Cortes-Acosta at the end of a reaching right hand.
There is a lull in the action as no one wants to commit, with Lewis always threatening that he is going to unleash something but pulling back more often than not. When Lewis does lunge forward, Cortes-Acosta bats him back with a counter as he stays in his preferred range chopping away at the front wheel. Cortes-Acosta fires off a one-two that grazes the side of the dome, and Lewis’ counter goes wide. Lewis lets rip a body kick, and Cortes-Acosta catches it and hangs onto it until Lewis flops to his back. Cortes-Acosta lords over him kicking the legs, and he hangs onto an ankle to punch the body a few times. Herzog tells him to choose whether he wants to let Lewis up, and he does. Lewis gingerly gets back to his feet, and walks right into a jab. Lewis lets fly a kick, and Cortes-Acosta slips when dodging it to bounce off the cage. Lewis lashes out with looping punches, and the younger man dodges and weaves away from every one. Cortes-Acosta’s jab ends the tepid round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cortes-Acosta
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Cortes-Acosta
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Cortes-Acosta
Round 2
The heavyweights pick up where they left off, with Cortes-Acosta probing with jabs while Lewis tries high-amplitude, generally inaccurate offense. Lewis scores a body kick in the midst of a surge, but Cortes-Acosta is no worse for wear and keeps the jab right in Lewis’ face. Lewis walks face-first into a clean right hand that surprises him, and he lumbers forward to grab hold of his foe who is out of the way. Cortes-Acosta lets him bounce off the fencing so he can keep pecking at him, and he jams the front leg with a kick. Lewis wades forward with his hands down, taking the jab on the forehead so he can close in. He lobs a big left and a bigger right, but Cortes-Acosta is already two steps ahead of him. Cortes-Acosta snaps the head back with his jab, and he follows one with a right hand down the pipe. “Salsa Boy” keeps probing with his flustering jab, disrupting what Lewis has to offer before it gets thrown.
Cortes-Acosta walks Lewis down fearlessly, and he rolls with a looping left hook and puts his hand in the air to signal that he dodged it. Cortes-Acosta jabs the head and body, and he leans back to take the sting out of a Lewis overhand right.
When absorbing a jab, Lewis slips and feebly falls to his back. The frustrated Lewis turns to his knees under fire, seemingly out of the fight. Lewis turtles up as the Dominican pelts him with right hands, and Herzog urges Lewis to fight on but Lewis will not.
Punches continue to mount until Herzog waves the fight off, and the building does not respond positively to the stoppage or the victor.
The Official Result
Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Derrick Lewis R2 3:14 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Waldo Cortes Acosta, citing his athleticism, speed, and technical striking. He acknowledges Derrick Lewis's knockout power but believes Waldo's chin and volume will carry him. He notes Waldo was rocked in his last fight but trusts his durability. He says the odds are probably accurate but warns it's a Derrick Lewis fight where anything can happen.
Big Brady highlights Waldo's durability, noting he ate bombs from Pavlovich and smiled. He thinks Lewis is knockout-or-bust and Waldo is a much better minute-winner. He expects Waldo to cruise to a decision win, as Lewis likely can't knock him out.
Cody picks Waldo Cortes-Acosta but is hesitant due to the price tag. He notes Waldo's jab and footwork could give Lewis problems, but worries about Waldo's tendency to be hesitant against power punchers. Cody sees Waldo winning more often than not but prefers not to lay the heavy price.
Connor picks Derrick Lewis, relying on his proven ability to change a fight with one punch or a wild technique (e.g., flying knee). He argues that Waldo Cortes Acosta is not a consistent fighter and can be drawn into brawls, as seen against Ryan Spann. Connor also notes that Lewis has a history of winning fights he's losing (e.g., Volkov, Hunt) and that his dynamism is a constant threat. However, he admits Lewis's calm has eroded in recent years.
Daniel Vreeland picks Waldo Cortes-Acosta but is hesitant. He notes that he has been wrong about Cortes-Acosta before, picking against him in his last two fights. He acknowledges Lewis's knockout power and get-up game, but believes Cortes-Acosta has momentum and is coming into his own. Vreeland warns that Lewis is always dangerous and that this is a tough fight to call.
James picks Cortes-Acosta via decision, citing his superior boxing and durability. He notes Lewis is on a downtrend, often quitting when tired, and that Cortes-Acosta is smart enough to avoid Lewis's power bursts. He mentions the over 1.5 rounds as a potential prop.
The host expects Cortes Acosta to use his pesky jab and body work to slow down Derrick Lewis, eventually leading to a TKO finish. He notes Cortes Acosta's improved chin and durability, believing he can eat Lewis's best shots. However, he hesitates to play the -350 line, suggesting the method of victory might be a better bet. He predicts the fight won't go to the scorecards.
Paul picks Derrick Lewis by KO, viewing it as a system play. He acknowledges Waldo is more likely to win but believes Lewis's power is a game-changer. Paul notes Lewis's age and cardio issues but says power is the last to go, and he likes the plus money on Lewis by KO.
The MMA Guru picks Waldo Cortes Acosta, citing his talented hands and recent activity. He believes Derrick Lewis's one-dimensional striking will be countered, and that Lewis will quit after getting cracked. He predicts a first-round TKO.
Zane leans toward Waldo Cortes Acosta, citing his youth (34) and calm, consistent approach. He notes that Derrick Lewis has lost his composure in recent fights and tends to brawl recklessly, which plays into Waldo's patient counter-striking. However, Zane acknowledges that Lewis has dynamic fight-changing power and could land a lucky shot. He also mentions that Waldo is not a consistent finisher and could be outpointed if Lewis fights smart.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derrick Lewis | 1 | 9 of 17 | 52% | 10 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Tallison Teixeira | 0 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derrick Lewis | 1 | 9 of 17 | 52% | 10 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Tallison Teixeira | 0 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derrick Lewis | 9 of 17 | 52% | 8 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 6 | 1 of 2 | 6 of 9 |
| Tallison Teixeira | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derrick Lewis | 9 of 17 | 52% | 8 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 6 | 1 of 2 | 6 of 9 |
| Tallison Teixeira | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Teixeira (-270); Lewis (+225)
Round 1
So far this year, Brazilians in UFC headliners are 0-8 against foreign adversaries—and for the sake of this math, Mackenzie Dern, born in Arizona once sporting a Valley Girl accent, is considered an American. We won’t get into the muddiness of “but Merab Dvalishvili has his American citizenship so technically he’s an American male champ” because ain't nobody got time for that. These two heavyweights sure don’t. If this goes the distance, a lot of parlay anchors will bust. Lewis (28-12, 1 NC; 19-10 UFC) is hanging on to his all-time UFC knockout lead, and he can register one more at the expense of skyscraping Brazilian slugger Teixeira (8-0, 1-0 UFC). Referee Jason Herzog will receive the final assignment of the evening, and he brings the big fellas together to bump their equally big fists together. It’s on with the show.
Teixeira moves himself to the center of the cage, and he blocks a head kick. Teixeira catches him with a left hand directly on the eye socket, and Lewis clutches at it and appears compromised. He might be playing possum, as Lewis unleashes fury in the form of a swarm of looping punches.
Backing Teixeira off with a right, it is his nuclear left hand that sends the 6-foot-7 Brazilian flying down to the floor. “The Black Beast” pounces, delivering a punishing barrage of ground-and-pound that knocks Teixeira’s head around.
Teixeira manages to stand up under fire, although he places every finger in the fence to pull on it as hard as he can to do so. Herzog waves the fight off, and Teixeira pushes on Herzog’s face and is upset about the possibly early stoppage.
The victorious Houstonian takes his shorts off, as has become his trademark, and he throws them out into the crowd. He walks over to Teixeira’s empty corner and mimes himself marking his territory like a beast. He proceeds to remove his groin cup as well, pitching it deep into the audience as there is some fan that goes home with a sweaty, stinky souvenir. Ever the classy gentlemen, he drops trou and moons the crowd. He pulls them back up to march over to UFC chief Dana White, who hands him his cell phone—it is President Donald Trump on the other end. Lewis does not share which words were exchanged, but he does remark, “USA up in this hoe.” When commentator Daniel Cormier asks him what he wants next, Lewis deftly replies “my wife” and says she will be soon subjected to some heavy ground-and-pound. What a guy. When Lewis fights next, you best believe we will be here for it. We hope you are too.
The Official Result
Derrick Lewis def. Tallison Teixeira R1 0:35 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Tallison Teixeira based on size and skill, but is very hesitant due to Teixeira's lack of experience (8 fights) and first main event. He thinks Teixeira is faster and can beat Lewis to the punch, but acknowledges Lewis has one-punch power and could freeze Teixeira. He will not bet on the fight.
Big Brady acknowledges Derrick Lewis's power but thinks Tallison Teixeira is much more skilled and durable at this stage. He notes Teixeira is a BJJ black belt with great volume and power, and Lewis is hittable and has been finished often. He expects Teixeira to finish Lewis early, picking a first-round knockout.
Connor picks Teixeira based on the 'vibe' that he is a young, athletic heavyweight with basic boxing fundamentals and a powerful frame. He acknowledges that Teixeira is untested, with no fight lasting more than three minutes, and that heavyweight prospects often flame out. He compares the matchup to a coin flip, noting that Derrick Lewis can still beat anyone he doesn't respect, but Teixeira's size and aggression give him a good chance to put Lewis away early.
The host sees this as a close fight but likes the value on Lewis at +220. He believes Lewis will be the first to crack back with power against Teixeira, who hasn't faced such resistance. He expects Lewis to clip Teixeira's chin and knock him out. The pick is based on Lewis's power and the odds being favorable.
The MMA Guru picks Derrick Lewis as an underdog, citing Teixeira's lack of quality opponents and Lewis's experience and power. He notes Lewis has knocked out top heavyweights like Curtis Blaydes and Alexander Volkov, and went five rounds with Jailton Almeida. He expects Lewis to mix in grappling and finish Teixeira by TKO in the second or third round, as Teixeira has been hit by lesser fighters and may struggle with the step up in competition.
Zane agrees with Connor, picking Teixeira as the young heavyweight on the rise who has the size, athleticism, and basic technical game to put Derrick Lewis away. He notes that Lewis is technically a shambles with poor footwork and looping strikes, making him vulnerable to a confident, aggressive prospect. However, Zane also acknowledges the uncertainty, stating that Teixeira might just be another flash in the pan like Chris Daukas or Tai Tuivasa.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derrick Lewis | 1 | 41 of 75 | 54% | 47 of 81 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 1 | 3:23 |
| Rodrigo Nascimento | 0 | 27 of 41 | 65% | 72 of 92 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:46 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derrick Lewis | 0 | 9 of 17 | 52% | 15 of 23 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 1 | 1:40 |
| Rodrigo Nascimento | 0 | 15 of 23 | 65% | 48 of 62 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:37 | |
| 2 | Derrick Lewis | 0 | 17 of 35 | 48% | 17 of 35 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:35 |
| Rodrigo Nascimento | 0 | 12 of 15 | 80% | 24 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:09 | |
| 3 | Derrick Lewis | 1 | 15 of 23 | 65% | 15 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
| Rodrigo Nascimento | 0 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derrick Lewis | 41 of 75 | 54% | 33 of 65 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 41 | 13 of 16 | 13 of 18 |
| Rodrigo Nascimento | 27 of 41 | 65% | 16 of 30 | 7 of 7 | 4 of 4 | 8 of 20 | 6 of 6 | 13 of 15 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derrick Lewis | 9 of 17 | 52% | 5 of 11 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 10 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 2 |
| Rodrigo Nascimento | 15 of 23 | 65% | 8 of 16 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 10 | 4 of 4 | 7 of 9 | |
| 2 | Derrick Lewis | 17 of 35 | 48% | 14 of 32 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 24 | 8 of 11 | 0 of 0 |
| Rodrigo Nascimento | 12 of 15 | 80% | 8 of 11 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 6 | |
| 3 | Derrick Lewis | 15 of 23 | 65% | 14 of 22 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 16 |
| Rodrigo Nascimento | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Lewis (-148), Nascimento (+124)
Round 1
The UFC heard the constant cries of fans calling for more heavyweight and middleweight main events and made sure to deliver. Despite one victory in his last five go-rounds, Lewis (27-12, 1 NC; 18-10 UFC) is entering into his 12th UFC headliner. He hunts for a concussive victory to extend his knockout record with the promotion, and he has been matched up against Brazilian up-and-comer Nascimento (11-1, 1 NC; 4-1, 1 NC UFC). With seven combined decision wins in their 38 victories, referee Jason Herzog will likely be more than in-cage decoration before the heavyweight headliner is all said and done. With no bad blood between them, the two large gentlemen totaling 529 pounds are summoned to the middle of the cage to bump their extra-large gloves. It’s on with the show. Lewis says hello with a head kick, and when Nascimento comes in towards him, Lewis threatens with an inside trip takedown. Nascimento keeps to his feet as he absorbs a right hand to the side of the head, and he turns Lewis around to the floor. Lewis hits a trip and slams “Yogi Bear” to the ground. Nascimento gets right back up, and Lewis greets him with a knee to the belly. Nascimento tries to take him down in response, but Lewis chucks him to the wall and knees him a few more times for good measure. Nascimento gives him a few knees back to think about, and Lewis elbows him. Nascimento hangs his hands over the fence until Lewis breaks away, and he sneaks in a left hand on the break. Lewis takes a step back to avoid a low kick, and he fires off a jumping switch kick and a swarm of four huge punches. Nascimento ties him up, and Lewis uppercuts and elbows him. Nascimento trips Lewis up and puts him down to the ground, where he looks to get some strikes going on top. Nascimento works the body and head, and he hacks down with a pair of powerful elbows. The Brazilian hammers Lewis with a few more elbows before stepping over to half guard on the other side. Nascimento slashes with elbows until he steps over to full mount, and Lewis explodes at the right time to turn Nascimento over and put the Brazilian on his back. Nascimento clings to his man, holding on to the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nascimento
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Nascimento
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Nascimento
Round 2
The heavyweights meet in the middle, and Lewis walks through a low kick to sling two hooks. Nascimento gets off a leg kick, and he walks face-first into a huge right hook from “The Black Beast.” Lewis slugs away until the two end up against the wall, and Nascimento holds on to prevent further offense. Lewis thinks about another takedown as they knee one another in the tie-up, and they jockey for position on the fence. Lewis tries to throw his foe down, but Nascimento keeps his balance and stays upright. Nascimento touches Lewis four times, and Lewis drills him with one far more powerful uppercut. Lewis flirts with another trip, and he lets go of the clinch to unleash a series of hammers. Lewis blasts Nascimento with six punches, and Nascimento desperately clings to him to stop him from landing more. Lewis gets enough space to slash an elbow up top, and he leans on Nascimento. Lewis elbows Nascimento and clobbers the Brazilian with some more heavy punches, and he tries a trip but falls over and gives up his back. Nascimento circles around to take his back, and he gets a hook in. Lewis hand-fights to prevent a submission from coming together, and they turn at the same time so that Lewis is on his back while Nascimento is in half guard. Nascimento grinds down with his elbow immediately, and he sits up and slams it down on Lewis’ face a few times. Nascimento remains on top until the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lewis
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Lewis
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Lewis
Round 3
The heavyweights lumber towards one another, and Lewis tosses out a slow low kick and a one-two that all comes up short. A jumping switch kick from “The Black Beast” slaps into the side, and he measures himself and jumps with a knee. This time, Nascimento is ready for this and counters.
Lewis gathers himself and unleashes hell with a monstrous one-two that separates Nascimento from his senses. Nascimento, barely still conscious, clings to Lewis’ leg in an attempt to show signs of life to Herzog. Lewis hammerfists Nascimento, turning a bit so that he can get a better angle and pound the fight out with vicious power punches.
After around a dozen punctuating blows, Herzog has seen enough, and the UFC’s all-time knockout leader has just gained one more on his mighty ledger. Lewis drops down to his celebratory predator position, and takes his shorts off and fans Nascimento with them. Lewis flops to his back, and he takes his cup out of his undergarments and throws it at the media row—an undisclosed media member catches the groin cup, and he will now have to wash his hands thoroughly. Lewis is not done yet, as he motions to the crowd that he wants to take off his last remaining garb of clothing. After tossing his gloves into the audience, he pulls his shorts down to moon the fans. In his triumphant post-fight interview, Lewis says he’s “getting too old for this s--t” and that commentator Michael Bisping promised him a drink six years ago. Bisping tells Lewis that drinks on him tonight. Next week, the UFC takes back to the Apex, and we will be there for it. We hope you are too.
The Official Result
Derrick Lewis def. Rodrigo Nascimento R3 0:49 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Rodrigo Nascimento as an underdog, expecting him to grapple heavily and win a boring decision. He notes Nascimento's path to victory is closing distance, holding Lewis against the cage, and taking him down. He acknowledges Lewis's power and durability but believes Nascimento can fight a perfect 25 minutes. He is surprised Lewis is the favorite given his 1-4 record in his last five.
Big Brady picks Derrick Lewis to knock out Rodrigo Nascimento in the first round. He notes that Lewis typically picks against Lewis but believes Nascimento is unimpressive, having gone life-and-death with Dontale Mayes and taken Alexey Oleinik to a split decision. He thinks Lewis just needs one big shot and that Nascimento is hittable. He questions if Nascimento will wrestle, as he didn't against Mayes, but expects Lewis to land a knockout.
Cody picks Derrick Lewis, citing Lewis's insane power and ability to get up from takedowns despite a wonky get-up game. He notes that Lewis has a history of losing early rounds but finishing late, as seen against Volkov and Pesta. He believes Nascimento is slow, not durable, and lacks the wrestling to keep Lewis down. Cody suggests Lewis by KO is the most likely outcome but recommends the moneyline for safety.
Daniel Vreeland picks Derrick Lewis, citing his status as the all-time KO leader in the UFC and his ability to explode up from bad positions. He notes that Lewis has to win by knockout, but he leads the UFC in that category. He also mentions that Nascimento has shown heart but that Lewis doesn't often give second chances.
The host picks Nascimento to win by submission, citing his superior grappling and multiple paths to victory. He notes Lewis is knockout-or-bust and that Nascimento's takedown game and top control should be decisive. He expects Nascimento to get the fight to the ground and find a finish. He advises against betting Lewis as a favorite and suggests waiting for a better number on Nascimento.
Paul agrees with Cody, picking Derrick Lewis. He emphasizes that Lewis can lose early rounds but still knock out opponents late, referencing the Volkov and Pesta fights. He notes that Nascimento has poor takedown accuracy (33%) and has struggled against lesser competition. Paul suggests that if Lewis gets taken down early, the live betting line could offer value. He recommends the moneyline over prop bets due to the uncertainty of round.
The MMA Guru picks Derrick Lewis over Rodrigo Nascimento, arguing that Nascimento has never succeeded in grappling against any opponent and that his only win is against Alan Baudot (overturned). He notes that Lewis has been in big spots while this is Nascimento's first main event. He dismisses Nascimento's chances on the feet, saying if you think he'll succeed there, you're guessing.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jailton Almeida | 0 | 38 of 56 | 67% | 120 of 153 | 6 of 15 | 40% | 4 | 1 | 21:10 |
| Derrick Lewis | 0 | 20 of 39 | 51% | 28 of 54 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:57 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jailton Almeida | 0 | 11 of 15 | 73% | 16 of 21 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 2 | 0 | 4:36 |
| Derrick Lewis | 0 | 6 of 11 | 54% | 7 of 14 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Jailton Almeida | 0 | 6 of 8 | 75% | 16 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 2 | 0 | 4:19 |
| Derrick Lewis | 0 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Jailton Almeida | 0 | 19 of 29 | 65% | 33 of 45 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 1 | 3:57 |
| Derrick Lewis | 0 | 5 of 15 | 33% | 6 of 17 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:33 | |
| 4 | Jailton Almeida | 0 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 28 of 37 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 4:23 |
| Derrick Lewis | 0 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 5 | Jailton Almeida | 0 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 27 of 32 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 | 0 | 3:55 |
| Derrick Lewis | 0 | 6 of 9 | 66% | 6 of 9 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jailton Almeida | 38 of 56 | 67% | 32 of 48 | 5 of 5 | 1 of 3 | 5 of 7 | 3 of 8 | 30 of 41 |
| Derrick Lewis | 20 of 39 | 51% | 17 of 33 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 28 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jailton Almeida | 11 of 15 | 73% | 8 of 12 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 12 |
| Derrick Lewis | 6 of 11 | 54% | 4 of 7 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 10 | |
| 2 | Jailton Almeida | 6 of 8 | 75% | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 7 |
| Derrick Lewis | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jailton Almeida | 19 of 29 | 65% | 18 of 28 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 8 | 16 of 21 |
| Derrick Lewis | 5 of 15 | 33% | 4 of 13 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 12 | |
| 4 | Jailton Almeida | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Derrick Lewis | 2 of 2 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | |
| 5 | Jailton Almeida | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Derrick Lewis | 6 of 9 | 66% | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 5 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Almeida (-485), Lewis (+370)
Round 1
Referee Marc Goddard better be ready for this heavyweight main attraction, because the judges can almost certainly take this fight off. For reference, the betting line that this fight ends inside the distance can be found anywhere from -3000 to -10000. Meteorically rising in the division is Almeida (19-2, 5-0 UFC), who has rattled off five finishes since joining the league in 2022. His foe Lewis (27-11, 1 NC; 18-9 UFC) celebrates equalizing power and can never truly be counted out, but it could be rough sledding in this style vs. style contest for “The Black Beast.” The sport is wild, and anything can happen. Before it does, the fighters calmly touch ‘em up. There is no flight from Lewis to start the fight, and instead he measures his distance early with a front kick. Almeida boots the Houstonian upside the head, and he drops down to snatch up a single. Almeida throws Lewis to the mat 30 seconds into the fight, and he lands right in side control. Almeida steps over into full mount, and he turns around to give up his back before taking a shot or two. Almeida searches for an arm-triangle choke, and he pulls Lewis away from the fence to set up the choke. Almeida presses his weight down to try to complete the choke, but Lewis fights the grip and frees his neck from submission danger for the moment. Almeida sits on top without a care in the world, and he hangs on as Lewis looks to toss him off the side. Almeida punches the chest and smacks Lewis with a left hand, and Lewis turns over and gives his back up again. Almeida looks to fasten a body triangle, but he cannot get his legs fully around the waist. Through sheer power, Lewis turns and stands up, and the Brazilian completely stifles his excitement by hitting an easy single and hopping right into mount again. Almeida slashes down with an elbow, and he lowers himself down to set up another arm-triangle choke. The Brazilian partially steps to the side to lock the move down, and Lewis keeps Almeida’s leg trapped between his own. Lewis attempts a sweep, and “Malhadinho” thwarts it and connects with some ground-and-pound. Almeida grinds his elbow down, and he stands up. Lewis follows him up, and he stops a takedown at the tail end of the round and elbows his man in the side of the head until the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Round 2
Hands are clapped to begin the second round, and Lewis fakes an uppercut to make Almeida think twice about a naked shot. Lewis jumps in the air to fire off a switch kick, and he misses by a wide margin. Almeida pump-fakes and eats a right hand on the side of the head, and he still manages to take Lewis off of his feet with a double and set him gingerly down to the mat. Almeida allows Lewis to turn to his side and stomach so that he can take the back, and he aims to flatten “The Black Beast” out. Almeida sits down on Lewis’ belly in mount, and he gets in short but effective strikes to irritate Lewis. Lewis turns over once more, and Almeida hangs on and drags him around so he can start fishing for a choke from behind. Almeida goes palm-to-palm for more of a face squeeze or neck crank than a choke, and Lewis does not show any cause for concern. Almeida attempts another face crank, at an awkward position with Lewis on his side, and Lewis no-look elbows the Brazilian in the face a few times. Lewis turns over and gest flattened out, and Almeida fastens another tight grip on the jaw. Goddard checks on the fighters to make sure there are no gloves being grabbed, and he tells Almeida that Lewis is grabbing his wrist. Almeida looks irritated, and then starts smacking Lewis in the side and head with elbows and the occasional punch. The strikes continue from “Malhadinho” until the horn blares, ending another dominant round in his favor.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Round 3
Hands are clapped to start the third round, and Lewis is energized and ready to throw hands. Lewis fires off a few uppercuts, and Almeida gets shut down in a takedown attempt as Lewis hammers him on the side. Lewis nearly pushes Almeida over to toss him to his back so he can climb on top, but the Brazilian is savvy enough to slide around to put Lewis on the mat. Almeida steps into mount easily, and he starts working with strikes but is not doing much. Goddard tells them to keep working, and Almeida complains that Lewis is grabbing his gloves when he is just grabbing the wrist. An enraged, empowered Lewis muscles Almeida over and throws him over, and he proceeds to clobber his foe with a number of punches. Almeida tries with all his might to turn the tables, and he succeeds in hitting a sweep to dump Lewis to his back again. Almeida slices over to mount once more, and he appears just as exhausted as Lewis. Almeida manages to gather some steam and hack down with an elbow, but his own offense is practically zero as time ticks off the clock. Lewis turns himself over, and when he is about to fall into submission territory, he turns back about and gets punched in the face for his efforts. Almeida stands up and moves to side control when Lewis falls to his back, and he does nothing when holding the dominant position. Goddard tells Almeida to do something, so the Brazilian stands back and lets Lewis have it. A number of big right and left hands get through, forcing Lewis to shell up, and the round concludes with Lewis possibly saved by the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Round 4
The championship rounds have unexpectedly been reached, and Almeida opens up with a leg kick. Lewis sees a takedown coming, and he blasts Almeida in the face with an uppercut reminiscent of when he knocked Curtis Blaydes’ block off. The strike does not connect cleanly enough to do the damage he hoped, and Almeida succeeds in completing the takedown and putting “The Black Beast” on the floor. Almeida goes into mount fearlessly, and as Lewis looks to bench press him off, the Brazilian hangs on and moves over to the side. Lewis’ subsequent explosion fails, and Almeida smothers him while trying to land a strike or two. Lewis turns over, giving his back up once more and allowing Almeida to maintain a dominant position. Almeida follows a barrel-rolling Lewis so he can keep the back control, and he gets both hooks in and thinks about a rear-naked choke. Almeida bails on it so he can get back on top, and he maneuvers himself into the mount position. Lewis shakes his body to make Almeida break his grip momentarily, and he turns to a knee with Almeida hanging on from behind. The stalemate continues until the round wraps.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Round 5
Defying all expectations, the heavyweights have reached the fifth round for the first time in their respective careers. The two hug, totally exhausted. Lewis is more fired up than usual, and he walks Almeida down and slugs him in the face. Lewis hunts for uppercuts, and he succeeds in shutting down the attempt of his opponent in a wild exchange. Lewis bashes Almeida on the side of the head until Almeida turns the corner to get the fight down, and Lewis hops from one side of the cage to the other to stop it. Lewis keeps himself upright with the fence behind him, until “Malhadinho” decides to lift the 280-ish pound fighter off of his feet and slam him to the ground. Almeida leaps into mount, and he sits there. Goddard asks for more work, which has been an extreme oddity for a dominant competitor in the full mount position. Almeida presses chest-to-chest as he embraces the grind, and Goddard raises his voice to get them to continue moving. Almeida moves back to a partial mount as Lewis’ attempts to buck the Brazilian off all fail. With a minute to go, Lewis explodes back up, and Almeida doggedly pursues the single and throws Lewis down much to the delight of the crowd. Lewis turns to his knees, without absorbing a strike in the whole exchange, and Almeida is warned for grabbing the glove. Lewis stands with seconds to spare, and Almeida concludes the horrific, exhausting and totally one-sided bout by tossing Lewis to his seat one more time. Incredibly, the fighters have heard the final bell in this five-round slog, and they are not happy to have done this. The scores could vary depending on how many 10-8 rounds are issued for the Brazilian, especially in the earlier rounds, but the 50 on his side is practically guaranteed. It may be a moral victory that Lewis went the distance, and that he landed more significant strikes on his opponent than all four of Almeida’s past UFC foes combined. In his victorious post-fight interview, Almeida puts a capstone on his evening by calling out former interim champ Ciryl Gane. If that fight comes together, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Almeida (50-45 Almeida)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Almeida (50-45 Almeida)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Almeida (50-45 Almeida)
The Official Result
Jailton Almeida def. Derrick Lewis via Unanimous Decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-45)
Angelo is very confident in Almeida, citing his dominant grappling and pressure. He acknowledges Lewis has insane power and could land an uppercut, but thinks Almeida will get takedowns and avoid danger. He is surprised the line is tightening and would throw more money on Almeida if it continues. He compares Almeida's potential dominance to Sergey Spivak's performance against Lewis.
Big Brady picks Jailton Almeida to win by first-round submission. He notes that Almeida will shoot for a takedown within 10 seconds, and if Lewis doesn't land a big shot, Almeida will take him down and submit him. He criticizes Lewis's ground game, saying he relies on strength and explosion but can't do that against a BJJ black belt like Almeida. He acknowledges Lewis's power but favors Almeida.
Daniel Levi picks Jailton Almeida, citing his elite offensive wrestling and grappling, especially at heavyweight. He notes Almeida's speed, athleticism, and fight IQ, and believes he will take Lewis down and finish him within two rounds. Levi acknowledges Lewis's knockout power and path to victory if he can survive early takedowns and explode back up, but ultimately sees Almeida's dominance on the ground as too much. He mentions he won't lay the -500 chalk but will look for other angles like parlays or fight to start round 3.
James is extremely confident that Almeida will submit Lewis in round one. He notes that Lewis has been submitted before by Spivac and Cormier, and he expects Almeida to take him down and finish with an arm triangle or rear naked choke. He calls the Lewis win over Lima a lucky knockout and believes Almeida is way too good for Lewis at this stage. He places a same-game parlay: Almeida to get 1+ takedown, win in round 1, and win by submission, which he says is plus 250 and offers massive edge over the -130 price for submission alone at other books.
Almeida is a strong, explosive heavyweight who takes opponents down and finishes them with ground and pound or submissions. Lewis is taking the fight on short notice and often gets finished when he can't get a knockout. Almeida will take Lewis down and pound him out. The fight will end in the first round, so under 1.5 rounds is the safest bet.
The MMA Guru picks Jailton Almeida over Derrick Lewis. He acknowledges Lewis' strength against athletic wrestlers but notes that grapplers who work the clinch, like Sergey Spivak and Alexander Volkov, have succeeded. The Guru believes Almeida's underrated boxing and clinch work will allow him to drag Lewis down and ground-and-pound. He cites Lewis' age (38) and declining movement. He predicts a TKO via ground and pound.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derrick Lewis | 1 | 17 of 33 | 51% | 20 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:29 |
| Marcos Rogério de Lima | 0 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derrick Lewis | 1 | 17 of 33 | 51% | 20 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:29 |
| Marcos Rogério de Lima | 0 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derrick Lewis | 17 of 33 | 51% | 16 of 32 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 32 |
| Marcos Rogério de Lima | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derrick Lewis | 17 of 33 | 51% | 16 of 32 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 32 |
| Marcos Rogério de Lima | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Rogerio de Lima (-215), Lewis (+185)
Round 1
One day ago, this heavyweight slobberknocker that will almost certainly end in either a violent knockout or some serious huffing and puffing – possibly both – is now sitting pretty as the “Featured Fight of the Night” due to the cancelation of the Stephen Thompson-Michel Pereira contest. Hunting for his first win since 2021, Lewis (26-11, 1 NC; 17-9 UFC) still holds the UFC’s all-time knockout record, although Matt Brown tied it with him. He draws fellow knockout artist Rogerio de Lima (21-8-1, 10-6 UFC), and the structural integrity of the cage will be tested when these big men get after it. They lumber towards one another, not offering a glove touch, and referee Dan Miragliotta is ready to step in at a moment’s notice. Lewis shockingly leaps in the air, blasting Rogerio de Lima in the chops with a flying knee. Rogerio de Lima collapses to the ground, and Lewis jumps on top and starts hammering him with vicious ground-and-pound. Rogerio de Lima considers hunting for leglock while trying to survive, but he is in a bad, bad way. Lewis continues slugging him on the face and side of the head, and Rogerio de Lima bails on any possible sub setup and just looks to keep it together. Rogerio de Lima turns to his knees, and the writing may be on the wall here. “The Black Beast” continues swarming Rogerio de Lima with everything he has, and Miragliotta has no choice but to call the fight. Lewis unmounts his defeated opponent, takes his shorts off and starts gleefully running around the cage. He proceeds, in just his underpants, to triumphantly motion the crotch chop several times. Lewis jumps on the cage, happy as can be, celebrating in vintage Derrick Lewis fashion. The UFC’s knockout record now singularly sits in the lap of Lewis, who tells commentator Joe Rogan that his contract is now up and that he hopes to be re-signed by the promotion. If not, as he says, “it is what it is.” The rest of the top-notch post-fight remarks cannot be done justice by a simple play-by-play writeup, and must be heard.
The Official Result
Derrick Lewis def. Marcos Rogerio de Lima R1 0:33 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo is very confident in Marcos Rogério de Lima, stating he is better everywhere except power. He notes that Derrick Lewis is always dangerous with his knockout power, but believes Lima's wrestling, BJJ, and leg kicks will be too much. He placed a 1-unit bet at -129 and notes the line has already moved to -190.
Big Brady picks Marcos Rogério de Lima to win by first-round TKO via leg kicks. He argues de Lima has more paths to victory: knockout to the head, leg kick TKO, or submission. He questions Derrick Lewis's durability, cardio, and mentality, noting Lewis has been finished early in recent fights. He expects de Lima's leg kicks to shut down Lewis quickly.
Cody picks Lewis by KO, noting Lewis's power and ability to come from behind. He acknowledges Lewis's losing streak but points out the level of competition (Curtis Blaydes, Serghei Spivac, etc.) is much higher than de Lima's wins. He believes de Lima's cardio and chin are suspect, especially at altitude, and Lewis's heart and power will prevail. He took a small bet on Lewis by KO at +270.
James believes de Lima should be a sizable favorite, as Lewis is past his prime and has lost four of his last five. He notes de Lima's leg kicks are a key weapon and that Lewis has poor cardio and doesn't like leg kicks. He expects de Lima to land leg kicks early and possibly finish Lewis, though he acknowledges de Lima also gasses.
De Lima is on a good run and has power and leg kicks to slow Lewis down. He can also take Lewis down and smash him from top position. Lewis is on a losing streak and seems to have slowed down at 38. De Lima should be aggressive early to avoid Lewis's late power. I'm leaning on de Lima under 2.5 rounds.
Paul also picks Lewis, emphasizing the talent gap: de Lima's wins are over lower-tier heavyweights while Lewis has fought top contenders. He notes de Lima's history of quitting under adversity (e.g., tapping to a forearm choke against Romanov). He believes Lewis's ability to get back up from takedowns and his power will be decisive, especially at altitude where de Lima's cardio will falter.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serghei Spivac | 0 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Derrick Lewis | 0 | 12 of 21 | 57% | 36 of 54 | 6 of 8 | 75% | 1 | 0 | 2:32 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serghei Spivac | 0 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Derrick Lewis | 0 | 12 of 21 | 57% | 36 of 54 | 6 of 8 | 75% | 1 | 0 | 2:32 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serghei Spivac | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Derrick Lewis | 12 of 21 | 57% | 12 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 18 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serghei Spivac | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Derrick Lewis | 12 of 21 | 57% | 12 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 18 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Spivak (-230), Lewis (+195)
Round 1
The heavyweight main event is set to go, with Marc Goddard drawing the final referee assignment of the evening. Both big men are in orthodox stance. Spivak inches forward with feints, and when Lewis steps in to throw, Spivak uses a beautiful scarf throw to put him down. Spivak is in side control, looking for a choke, then moves to the back and throws heavy punches. Goddard looks on, giving Lewis time to work, and Lewis stands back up, only to be hurled down again. Lewis gets back to his feet and Spivak throws him again, with Lewis landing right on his head. Lewis gets back up and Spivak repeats the cycle yet once more. This time, Spivak tries for an arm-triangle and gets it with minimal resistance. He squeezes and Lewis taps. Complete domination on the ground by Sergey Spivak.
The Official Result
Sergey Spivak def. Derrick Lewis R1 3:05 via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
Big Brady favors Spivac due to his wrestling, cardio, and ability to maul opponents on the ground. He acknowledges Lewis's knockout power but believes Spivac will take him down and make him quit. He predicts a third-round submission win.
Cody picks Spivac, citing his wrestling ability to take Lewis down repeatedly. He notes that Lewis has been taken down by many heavyweights and that Spivac's takedown volume should lead to a finish in round 2 or 3. He also likes the prop of Spivac over 1.5 takedowns on PrizePicks. He acknowledges Lewis's puncher's chance but believes Spivac wins 70% of the time.
Connor picks Derrick Lewis despite acknowledging Spivak's well-rounded game and youth. He believes Lewis's style of surviving and landing big shots has historically beaten grinders like Spivak. However, he is concerned that Lewis's recent aggression and overconfidence may lead to him being off-balanced and taken down. He calls this a 'last ride' for Lewis, indicating low confidence.
Paul agrees with Spivac, noting he got the line at -190 before it moved. He argues that Lewis's weight loss is a red flag at age 37, and that Spivac's youth and improving grappling will overwhelm Lewis. He expects Spivac to get takedowns and eventually submit Lewis, as Lewis has not faced many submission threats. He strongly disagrees with the idea that Lewis will knock out Spivac.
Zane picks Derrick Lewis, agreeing with Connor that Spivak's style is not the kind that beats Lewis. He notes that Lewis has always been beaten by punchers, not grinders, and that Spivak's takedowns are inefficient and may gas him. However, he is concerned about Lewis's recent losses and aggressive mindset, making this a low-confidence pick.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sergei Pavlovich | 0 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Derrick Lewis | 1 | 15 of 24 | 62% | 15 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sergei Pavlovich | 0 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Derrick Lewis | 1 | 15 of 24 | 62% | 15 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sergei Pavlovich | 4 of 6 | 66% | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Derrick Lewis | 15 of 24 | 62% | 15 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sergei Pavlovich | 4 of 6 | 66% | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Derrick Lewis | 15 of 24 | 62% | 15 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pavlovich (-125), Lewis (+105)
Round 1
The UFC knew exactly what it was doing when this featured heavyweight fight was booked. One man holds the promotion’s all-time knockout record, while the other is a sturdy Russian striker who has won his last three with his fists. Lewis (26-9, 1 NC; 17-7 UFC) who likely will end the night with the biggest pop from the crowd, will try to get back on track after a stunning knockout against the stoic Pavlovich (15-1, 3-1 UFC). Referee Dan Miragliotta will need to keep his wits about him at all times, lest he get clipped by an errant blow, as fighters sporting knockout rates of 80% or higher are about to clash in front of his eyes. Lewis trots out of his corner and offers a glove touch, and it is accepted as the “USA” chants rain down in support of him. Lewis starts with a leg kick, and Pavlovich strides forward and sticks out a jab. Lewis does not bite on any feints, and he scores with a big left hand. They proceed to start slugging it out, and Lewis gets rocked with a right hand on the jaw. The Russian, seeing that Lewis got tagged, cracks Lewis with an uppercut and a right hand that knocks Lewis face-first into the fencing. Lewis backpedals, and Pavlovich gives chase and bombards him with punches. Lewis bends over to avoid the blows, and Pavlovich slugs him with several punches to force Lewis to fall forward and bonk his head on the mat. Lewis springs right back up, and Miragliotta intervenes to stop the fight, clearly seeing something others did not see as Lewis protests the stoppage immediately. The fans are outraged by what they believe to be an early stoppage, and Lewis may have been in trouble but he appeared to have his wits about him given his incensed reaction. Regardless of the feelings on the finishing sequence, Pavlovich has just officially recorded the biggest win of his career in hostile territory. Big fights almost certainly loom for the man out of Eagles MMA.
The Official Result
Sergei Pavlovich def. Derrick Lewis R1 0:55 via TKO (Punches)
Big Brady picks Sergei Pavlovich to win by first-round knockout. He cites Pavlovich's youth, reach advantage, and high volume striking. He notes Lewis has been finished in most of his losses and Pavlovich has power. He acknowledges Lewis can never be counted out but leans toward Pavlovich landing first.
Cody leans Pavlovich, noting his physical attributes: 84-inch reach, power, and youth. He acknowledges the unknown of Pavlovich's cardio beyond the first round, as all his UFC wins are first-round finishes. He also notes that Pavlovich is a wrestler but chooses to stand and bang, which could be dangerous against Lewis. He thinks Pavlovich's speed and boxing combinations will allow him to hit Lewis before Lewis can counter. He also mentions that Lewis is on the downswing, older, and less motivated.
Daniel likes Pavlovich's youth, output, size, and momentum after three straight wins. He notes Pavlovich's 5-inch reach advantage and his ability to flow punches into kicks. He acknowledges the risk of Lewis' one-punch knockout power, calling Lewis the greatest knockout artist in heavyweight history. He mentions Lewis' age (37), back problems, and tendency to sometimes not show up. He also notes that Lewis has lost in Texas before. He bet Pavlovich at plus 100 and is riding with it, but only one unit due to the volatility.
Preet picks Lewis, believing he will land his hammer and knock out Pavlovich in the first round. He notes Lewis's nuclear power and desire to make up for his loss to Tai Tuivasa. He thinks the odds are influenced by recency bias and that Lewis's Texas pride will drive him. He calls the fight volatile and prefers plus money on either side.
Paul picks Pavlovich but calls it a coin flip. He notes that neither fighter has much appetite for grappling and they will stand in the center. He mentions that Pavlovich has taken less punishment over his career and that Lewis is open to leg kicks and body shots, but Pavlovich is a head hunter. He thinks Pavlovich's reach and power are advantages, but he wouldn't be shocked if Lewis knocks him out. He also notes that Lewis is fighting in Texas and has a history of losing at home.
The MMA Guru predicts Sergei Pavlovich by first-round KO. He expects Pavlovich to land big jabs, push Lewis against the cage with knees, and eventually land a right hand that stuns Lewis. Pavlovich will follow up with ground-and-pound for the TKO. The Guru emphasizes Pavlovich's power and pressure.
Expert Picks (1)
AJ does not make a clear pick for this fight. He mentions that Hokit will likely wrestle Derrick Lewis, but does not state a winner.
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