Almeida vs. Lewis

preview and prediction of UFC fight night in Brazil on ESPN+

Jailton Almeida -510 (19-2)✅ vs. Derrick Lewis +360 (27-11)

Jailton Almeida, 32, (19-2), is on a 14-fight win streak (5 of those wins in the UFC). Almeida has climbed up 4 weight divisions in his 11-year career, he started as a welterweight in 2012. The 9th ranked UFC Heavyweight is a former “fight on mma” champion and a former “thunder fight” light heavyweight champion. Almeida holds a black belt in bjj but started out as a boxer, he has delivered all of his victories by finish and looks to do the same to Derrick Lewis on his home turf in Brazil.

Derrick Lewis, 38, (27-11), is the current record holder for most knockouts in UFC history (14). Lewis is 2-4 in his last 6 fights. The UFC number 10 heavyweight is looking to hang in the top 10 with a win over Almeida. Lewis has that 1 punch ko power that he has utilized his entire career. Lewis is going to be looking for knees or an uppercut up the middle while Almeida goes in for the takedown, which he certainly will. This seems like a crossroads fight, a change of the guard, a passing of the torch moment in the heavyweight division.

Almeida’s bread and butter is to throw the front kick up the middle and follow it with a takedown. Sometimes he’ll change the rhythm where he throws the front kick, waits a few seconds and then goes for the takedown, other times it is immediate. I believe there could be more of a feel out process in this fight. Last thing Almeida wants to do is rush a takedown and get caught on the way in. Even though Lewis has that 1 punch equalizer, I believe Almeida has too much momentum and is too dominant, this is his time. Going with Jailton Almeida by ground and pound TKO finish in rounds 1 or 2.

Also on the undercard…

Gabriel Bonfim✅ vs. Nicolas Dalby

Caio Borralho vs. Abus Magomedov✅*FOTN pick

Rodolfo Viera vs. Armen Petrosyan✅

Ismael Bonfim✅ vs. Vinc Pichel

Rinat Fakhretdinov ✅vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos