UFC Fight Night: Lewis and Daukaus End 2021 With A Bang

The UFC is sending 2021 off with a bang as heavyweights Derrick Lewis and Chris Daukaus meet in the final fight of the year. Lewis (25-8-0) and Daukaus (12-3-0) have combined for 31 knockouts, which is why the UFC odds have this ending quickly. Daukaus is slightly favored, but we’ve seen what Lewis has done as an underdog before.

Date: Saturday, 10 p.m. ET
Venue: UFC Apex, Las Vegas, NV
Watch on: ESPN+

Derrick Lewis vs Chris Daukaus

Weight Class: Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Rounds: Five (Main Event)
Moneyline: Derrick Lewis +105, Chris Daukaus -135
Totals: Over 1½ (-125o), Under 1½ (-105u)

Daukaus has finished all four of his UFC fights and received a performance bonus for his last three while Lewis has the most KO wins in the division. Someone is going to get slept here and the online sports betting odds may lean to Lewis being the victim.

But the “Black Beast” has been the architect of several high-profile upsets in the UFC. He knocked out Curtis Blaydes as a 3-1 underdog and is also one of only two UFC fighters to beat current champion Francis Ngannou. However, Daukaus is a new breed of heavyweight.

Daukaus is the Real Deal

He’s had a small sample size, but few “young” heavyweights have looked as dominant as Daukaus in his entry into the UFC. The prospect-turned-contender not only knocked out his four opponents, but he’s also averaged over nine significant strikes landed per minute.

To put this into perspective, the UFC record is 8.37, which is held by bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley. Daukaus also only absorbs 3.4 significant strikes per minute with a 64 percent defense. He may have been hurt against Shamil Abdurakhimov but he finished the job.

The adversity he faced can only make him better as he will face his toughest test in Lewis. Daukaus will be the faster of the two and that is why he’s favored here. If he can overwhelm Lewis without getting too reckless, he should win. This is easier said than done.

Lewis Needs Just One Shot

If you define “puncher’s chance,” a picture of Lewis better be in it as this big boy has ended fights with literally one swing. He’s come back from fights he was losing, like when he sent Blaydes to hell with an uppercut or when he took out Alexander Volkov after getting schooled for all but 11 seconds.

Lewis is a low-volume type of fighter. He spends a lot of his time in the octagon seemingly doing nothing. This can get him into a lot of trouble as more advanced strikers like Junior dos Santos and Ciryl Gane have finished him for his lack of activity.

With 22 UFC bouts under his belt, Lewis won’t be evolving any time soon. But as long as he carries bricks for hands, he’ll be worth a bet online as an underdog.

Lewis vs Daukaus: Who Wins?

From a picks perspective, we lean on Daukaus. He is hungrier, faster and more technical than Lewis. We’ve mentioned how Lewis struggles against high-level strikers and Daukaus may just make him pay for staring too long.

However, we are not betting against the Black Beast and his sledgehammer hands. Daukaus may style on Lewis for the first two rounds, then eats a Lewis overhand and that will be it. Thus, taking Lewis is the best UFC bet. Additionally, bet the prop for Lewis to win by a finish for more value on your wager.