UFC Vegas 45: Derrick Lewis vs. Chris Daukaus Picks and Predictions

Derrick Lewis and Chris Daukaus face off on Saturday at UFC Vegas 45 in a heavyweight showdown at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Lewis is currently the third ranked heavyweight fighter while Daukaus is ranked 7th. 

Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis comes into this fight with a 25-8 record overall and he had won four fights in a row before losing his last fight. Lewis's last fight came against Ciryl Gane and it was an ugly one. Lewis was outstruck 98-16 and it was late in the 3rd round that the fight was finished by knockout. Each of his last two wins came by knockout. Lewis is averaging 2.49 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 2.48 significant strikes per minute. Lewis mostly wants to keep the fight on the feet for the most part and he is averaging 0.49 successful takedowns every 15 minutes. Lewis can never be counted out and even if he looks like he’s going to be knocked out, he has finished fights. 

On the other side of this matchup is Chris Daukaus who sits with a 12-3 record overall and he has quit his job as a police officer to fight full time. Since coming into the UFC Daukaus has gone 4-0 and each of the four wins have been by knockout. His last fight was against Shamil Abdurakhimov and it was early in the second round he finished the fight. Daukaus outstruck his opponent 38-23 and there wasn’t much doubt he was going to find a way to win the fight. Daukaus is averaging 9.03 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 3.40 significant strikes per minute. He hasn’t had a takedown since coming into the UFC but he has stopped 100 percent of his opponent's takedown attempts. No matter how fast of a start he gets out to, he needs to make sure he doesn’t get put in a bad position and get finished.