by Dan Mendoza
The final UFC Card of 2021 features an excellent heavyweight main event. Derrick Lewis is up against Chris Daukaus. Because both fighters are known for their knockout power, this fight is unlikely to last the full five rounds.
In the co-main event, welterweights Stephen Thompson and Belal Muhammad square off. The victor of this bout will rise in the rankings and establish a claim for a championship opportunity.
UFC Fight Night: Lewis Vs. Daukaus
- Date: Saturday, December 18
- Main card: 4:00 p.m. PT/7:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. BST
- Main event (approx): 7:00 p.m. PT/10:00 p.m. ET/3:00 a.m. BST
Derrick Lewis vs. Chris Daukaus Betting Odds
Derrick Lewis, a former championship challenger, is trying to bounce back, while Chris Daukaus hopes to move up the rankings with a win against Lewis.
Derrick Lewis Fight Odds
Derrick Lewis is the underdog in at UFC betting sites online in this bout, but he should not be underestimated. Lewis is one of the heavyweight division’s most prolific knockout artists, having won numerous fights on the verge of defeat. He has struggled with his cardio in the past, but has improved in his previous two fights. He was on a four-fight winning streak before his loss against Ciryl Gane. Lewis has won twenty of his twenty fights through KO/TKO. He has two options: keep the fight standing and go for a knockout, or take the fight to the ground and finish with a TKO.
Chris Daukaus Fight Odds
Chris Daukaus is the favorite, and he has already made an impression in the UFC. He’s currently on a five-fight winning streak, all by KO/TKO. Daukaus is a heavyweight who uses his quickness to surprise his opponents. Despite not having as much fight experience as Lewis, he has won eleven fights by TKO/KO. His best hope is to be quicker to the punch than Lewis, to use his movement, and to finish with a TKO/KO.
Stephen Thompson vs. Belal Muhammad Betting Odds
We have an excellent welterweight matchup in the co-main event, with the talented striker Stephen Thompson taking on the gritty Belal Muhammad. The winner of this fight will be in talks for title contention.
Stephen Thompson Fight Odds
Stephen Thompson is the clear favorite in this bout, and for good reason: he’s faced the elite level in the division and battled for the title twice before. Despite his age of 38, Thompson has exceptional striking and mobility, which has baffled many opponents. He has a distinct Karate technique in which he can easily hop in and out of danger and does not telegraph his strikes. His best bet is to keep Muhammad on the defensive and win by decision.
Belal Muhammad Fight Odds
Belal Muhammad enters this fight on a five-bout winning streak. He’s considered the division’s dark horse and has slightly more bout experience than Thompson. He’s struggled when he’s faced the division’s highest level, but he’s noted for his consistent work rate and pressure. Muhammad has a similar record as Thompson, having won fourteen fights by decision. His best chance is to keep Thompson at bay and apply pressure for a decision victory.
Amanda Lemos vs. Angela Hill Betting Odds
Following that, in an interesting strawweight match, Brazilian Amanda Lemos takes on American Angela Hill. Hill’s UFC career might be over if she loses.
Amanda Lemos Fight Odds
On the main card, Amanda Lemos is the overwhelming favorite. Lemos has had a strong start to his UFC career, with four victories and three finishes. Lemos is noted for her striking skills, and she has won seven of her 10 fights by TKO/KO. She also has a strong background in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu and could take this bout to the ground. She has two options: stay active and composed to win by decision, or go all out for a KO/TKO finish.
Angela Hill Fight Odds
Angela Hill’s UFC career is currently in a do-or-die situation, she’s stepping in on short notice, replacing Nina Nunes. She is now on a one-fight losing skid, however she has lost three fights in the previous two years overall. She is well-known for her Muay Thai striking and excels at using kicks, elbows, knees, and clinching. Hill has fought most of the strawweight division but has struggled against the elite fighters, losing by decision most of the time. To keep her career alive, Hill should aim for a KO/TKO finish.
Raphael Assuncao vs. Ricky Simon Betting Odds
The Brazilian Raphael Assuncao takes on the American Ricky Simon in the bantamweight division. This is a big test for Simon, while Assuncao needs a win to keep his career in the UFC.
Raphael Assuncao Fight Odds
Raphael Assuncao is the underdog for this fight and is desperate to win. It wasn’t too long ago, he was considered one of the division’s top fighters. In recent fights, he has fallen on to hard times; he’s currently on a three-fight losing streak, with losses to Cody Garbrant, Marlon Moraes, and Cory Sandhagen. Assuncao is a talented Brazilian jiu-jitsu blackbelt and has won ten fights by submission, but most of his wins have come by decision. Assuncao has two options he could try to hold out for a decision win or take the fight to the ground and go for a submission.
Ricky Simon Fight Odds
Ricky Simon is the favorite for this fight, as he is the more active fighter and is currently on a three-fight win streak. He has a strong wrestling background and constantly keeps pressure on his opponents. Simon has struggled when he’s fought other contenders like Rob Font. He has won eighteen fights overall, with ten of those wins coming by decision. His greatest chance of victory is to maintain the pressure and push for a decision.
Diego Ferreira vs. Mateusz Gamrot Betting Odds
Diego Ferreira squares off against Mateusz Gamrot in the lightweight division.. Ferreira is in desperate need of a win after two losses, while Gamrot wants to add Ferreira’s name to his resume.
Diego Ferreira Fight Odd
Diego Ferreira is currently on a two-fight losing streak, and another loss here could determine his exit from the UFC. At thirty-six, Ferreira is quite old for the lightweight division. He’s fought the division’s elite and has struggled to get further up the rankings. Ferreira is known for his Brazilian Ju-Jitsu background; he’s won seven of his fights by submission and seven by decision. His best course of action would be to get this fight to the ground and hunt for a submission.
Mateusz Gamrot Fight Odds
Mateusz Gamrot is the favorite for this fight and has already made a strong impression, considering he’s only had three bouts in the UFC. This fight with Ferreira is sure to be his toughest fight yet. Gamrot has the same amount of fight experience as his opponent but has not fought at the same level of competition. Most of his wins have come by the decision, but he has won two fights by finishes, one by submission and another by KO/TKO. For this matchup, Gamrot may not risk going for a finish if he ends up in a difficult position, and his best chance is going for a decision.
Cub Swanson vs. Darren Elkins Betting Odds
We have talented Cub Swanson taking on the durable Darren Elkins in an exciting featherweight scrap to round out the main card. Both fighters are staples of the division and known for entertaining fights.
Cub Swanson Fight Odds
Cub Swanson is the favorite for this matchup but has a fight on his hands with Elkins. Swanson has had a long career fighting from the WEC all the way to the UFC but has never managed to fight for a title. Swanson is a talented boxer, who possesses knockout power, but struggles with his consistency. He’s only managed two wins in the last six years, and most of his losses have come by submission. His best chance is to finish the fight early by TKO/KO.
Darren Elkins Fight Odds
Darren Elkins is the underdog for this fight. His nickname is “THE DAMAGE” and he can absorb plenty of punishment. Elkins is known for his relentless pressure and wrestling. He will always look for takedowns and put his opponents on the back foot, but this causes him to take a lot of damage in the process. Elkins has won most of his fights by decision and should do the same here.
Dan Mendoza is a Vegas native who learned martial arts from the age of 10 - starting with Judo & Karate - moving to amateur boxing and later becoming a MMA coach and trainer. Dan covers UFC, Bellator, Boxing and other contact sports at Vegas-Odds.com
