UFC Fight Night: Curtis Blaydes vs. Derrick Lewis Betting Guide (2020)
One week removed from an electric night of fights at UFC 255: Figueiredo vs. Perez, the big boys are ready for primetime as two heavyweights in Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis will face off in this post-Thanksgiving showdown.
After another successful run at “Fight Island†in Abu Dhabi, this event will be the fifth in a row back in their home arena at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV.
Streamed in its entirety on ESPN and its family of networks, this card features a plethora of fighters that should offer no shortage of action in the lead up to the main event.
Let’s take a closer look at the main event itself in what will almost certainly have future title fight implications.
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Curtis Blaydes (14-2-0) vs. Derrick Lewis (24-7-0)
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Coming into this one as the defacto #2 contender in the heavyweight division behind Francis Ngannou, Curtis Blaydes likely senses the urgency to win with Jon Jones returning to the division. Blaydes only two professional losses came to Ngannou, and a win in this one could set up a trilogy fight which he will absolutely need in order to get a shot at the title.
The last time we saw him in the octagon was a unanimous decision win against Alexander Volkov back in June, his fourth win in a row.
For 35-year-old Derrick Lewis, the #4 contender in the division behind champion Stipe Miocic, his sole fight for a title (a 2018 loss to then-champion Daniel Cormier) is an opportunity he desperately wants back. After the loss, another loss to Junior dos Santos set Lewis off as he now won his last three straight including a big win over Aleksei Oleinik via TKO his last time in the octagon in August.
In his knockout of Oleinik, Lewis set the heavyweight record in what was is 11th knockout in the division.
Bottom Line
A takedown specialist, I expect Blaydes to come into this one doing what he usually does. The current holder of the record for most takedowns in the heavyweight division, Blaydes should have relative ease in the venture against an aging Lewis largely looking for paydays at this point in his career.
Once Blaydes gets him to the ground, I expect the fight to largely stay there, with Blaydes either finishing him in the middle rounds or more likely, riding out the final buzzer.
Pick: Blaydes by Points (+250)
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TJ Perun is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from TJ, check out his archive and follow him @JohnnyCovers.