A UFC Fight Night card from the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada will be headlined by fan favorite Derrick Lewis (26-10) and surging Russian contender Serghei Spivac (15-3). Both fighters need a win to move up the ladder of a Heavyweight division that now has no champion. Another potentially entertaining Heavyweight contest scheduled for Saturday is Marcin Tybura vs Blagoy Ivanov. Both are UFC veterans who will need a win to stay inside the official rankings. Also on the card is the return of the “Korean Superboy” Dooho Choi who faces Canada’s Kyle Nelson. The main card start time will be 12 p.m. Saturday night to accommodate to international audiences, as this card was origonially scheduled in South Korea.
#7 Derrick Lewis (26-10) vs #12 Serghei Spivac (15-3)
Derrick Lewis will make a return to the octagon this weekend. The “Black Beast” has lost two in a row, falling out of the Top 5 but looks to get back on track against Serghei Spivac. Spivac has won five of his last six fights and is coming off a TKO finish over Augusto Sakai. Lewis is a staple of the Heavyweight division and has faced the best competition the UFC has to offer. Spivac has struggled at times with topflight competition in the UFC but if the 28-year-old prospect is going to make a title run now is the time. Many of the top ranked Heavyweights in the UFC are not known as exceptional grapplers. Spivac could hold a stylistic advantage over many in the top ten.
Lewis is a massive heavyweight that has one shot knockout power. When Lewis fought accomplished wrestler Curtis Blaydes, he threw a well-timed uppercut that knocked Blaydes out as he attempted a takedown. Lewis may need something similar to happen in this contest because Spivac has a smothering style on the ground. Both fighters are 6’3 and have a one-inch separation in reach. Spivac enters as a (-270) favorite on online sportsbooks.
Spivac is entering the prime of his career and a win over a notable opponent like Lewis will catapult him up the rankings. Spivac’s striking has not been tested recently, but Lewis will have to stop takedown attempts to keep the fight where he wants it on the feet. I side with the oddsmakers on this fight and think that the ground game and youth of Spivac will be too much to overcome.
#10 Marcin Tybura (23-7) vs #15 Blagoy Ivanov (19-4)
A matchup of veteran European Heavyweights will take place on Saturday’s Fight Night main card. Marcin Tybura is coming of a huge win against highly touted prospect Alexander Romanov, who was undefeated at the time. Tybura has won six out of his last seven fights and is extremely well rounded. Ivanov (19-4) however, is a former Combat Sambo World Champion who has gone to decision in all of his six UFC fights.
This is an extremely competitive fight with online sportsbooks having Tybura as a slight favorite (-140). Tybura has faced the tougher competition in his career and holds a win over Serghei Spivac as well. Ivanov is a rough and tough heavyweight who can take massive amounts of damage and keep coming forward. Both of these fighters have strong ground games which makes me believe that this fight will be contested on the feet. I feel that the experience and confidence of Tybura may carry him to a decision victory in this matchup.
UFC Fight Night Prelims
The UFC Fight Night prelims will be filled with top international talent. The first fight of the prelims will feature undefeated Japanese flyweight prospect Tatsuro Taira (12-0) who is a -1200 favorite, the largest on the card. Taira will face UFC newcomer Jesus Aguilar. Aguilar recently was signed off the Dana White Contender Series after a submission victory. Also on the prelims, a lightweight matchup between Jeka Saragih (13-2) and Anshul Jubli (6-0) should entertain fans early. Saragih has won his last five fights four of which coming by knockout or TKO. Jubli is undefeated and making his promotional debut with the UFC. The prelims for this fight night card start at 8 p.m. PST with the main card starting at 10 p.m. PST.
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