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UFC 271 Odds: Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa Odds, Prediction

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Lewis is currently at -205 on the MMA odds and Tuivasa +155. It’s the last bout before the main event.

Derrick Lewis UFC 271 Odds

UFC 271 - Tai Tuivasa v Derrick Lewis

  • Derrick Lewis -185
  • Tai Tuivasa +145

The 37-year-old American Lewis (26-8) fights out of Texas and is a former Legacy Fighting Championship heavyweight champion. Francis Ngannou is the current UFC heavyweight king and Lewis is ranked third. Lewis does own an upset victory over the champion, coming via unanimous decision in July 2018 before Ngannou was the champ.

“The Black Beast” has gotten two title chances in his career and lost by second-round submission to Daniel Cormier at UFC 230 and then by third-round TKO for the interim heavyweight belt vs. Ciryl Gane. Lewis rebounded from that Gane defeat with a first-round knockout of Chris Daukaus (punches) in December.

Lewis fights rarely go the distance as he has 21 wins by KO/TKO, four by decision and that one submission loss to Cormier. Lewis’ 13 knockout victories are a UFC record for all divisions. He is the only fighter in history to have his first eight UFC bouts end in a knockout. This will be his 24th heavyweight bout, third-most in UFC history. His 17 victories are No. 2 (Andrei Arlovsky with 21).

The 6-foot-3, 260-pounder averages 2.52 significant strikes per minute with 50 per cent accuracy and absorbs 2.48 per minute with 41 per cent defence. His takedown average is 0.48 per 15 minutes with 25 per cent accuracy, and his takedown defence is 55 per cent. Lewis will have a four-inch reach advantage. His favoured margin of victory is by KO/TKO/DQ at -140, followed by points/decision at +710 and submission +1400.

Tai Tuivasa UFC 271 Odds

The 28-year-old Tuivasa (13-3) is from Australia and ranked 11th in the heavyweight division. He was once the Australian Fighting Championship heavyweight champion.

“Bam Bam” has fought a few notable heavyweights in his UFC career, beating Andrei Arlovski at UFC 225 by unanimous decision and losing to Junior dos Santos by second-round TKO in December 2018. Overall, Tuivasa has followed a three-fight losing streak with four straight wins (second-longest streak in the division), albeit against so-so competition. He dispatched former NFL Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Hardy in just one round last July and then beat Augusto Sakai by second-round KO in December.

The 6-foot-2, 265-pound southpaw lands 4.63 significant strikes per minute with 52 per cent accuracy and absorbs 3.51 per minute with 49 per cent defence. His takedown average per 15 minutes zero, and his takedown defence is 50 per cent.

Tuivasa’s four-fight knockout streak in UFC competition is the longest among all active fighters. He is one of two heavyweights in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a flying knee. Overall, Tuivasa has 12 wins by KO/TKO and one by decision. He has lost once each by KO/TKO, submission and decision. To win by KO/TKO/DQ here, he’s +220.

The over-under for this scheduled three-rounder is just 1.5 rounds, with the under a -180 favourite.

UFC 271 Prediction: Lewis vs. Tuivasa

Tuivasa by KO/TKO/DQ at +220