Derrick Lewis vs Ilir Latifi UFC Picks & Predictions - 2/8/2020

Derrick Lewis vs Ilir Latifi

UFC 247

Toyota Center in Houston, TX

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Derrick Lewis will enter the Octagon against Ilir Latifi at UFC 247 in Toyota Center in Houston, TX on Saturday, February 8, 2020. The odds have Lewis priced at -275 while Latifi is at +235.

Derrick "The Black Beast" Lewis will be looking to add a victory to his career record of 22-7-0. The 34-year-old will fight at 260 lbs and stands 6' 3". The orthodox fighter extends his reach 79". Ilir "The Sledgehammer" Latifi stands 5' 10" and weighs 205 lbs. The orthodox fighter comes into this bout with a record of 15-7-0. The 36-year-old has a reach of 73". Regarding significant strikes, Derrick Lewis is connecting on 2.63 per min and Ilir Latifi is landing 2.29 significant strikes per minute. Lewis is connecting on 49% of the significant strikes he tries while Latifi lands 40%. Concerning their defense in the Octagon, "The Black Beast" absorbs 2.29 significant strikes per minute while "The Sledgehammer" allows 3.09. Lewis also thwarts 44% of the significant strikes his opponents throw his way while Latifi is able to stop 55% of the strikes thrown in his direction.

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Concerning grappling, Derrick Lewis is not as efficient of a wrestler as he takes his opponents to the canvas 0.52 times per 15 min. Lewis is taking his opponents to the canvas on 25% of his tries and is defending 53% of all takedown attempts. Latifi is finishing his takedown attempts on 30% of the takedowns he tries and stuffing 90% of all takedowns attempted by his opposition. Regarding going for the sub, Lewis is less likely to go for the finish by attempting 0.3 finishes per 3 rounds while Latifi goes for 0.5 finishes per 3 rounds.

The last time he fought, Derrick Lewis faced Blagoy Ivanov and ended up winning this fight by way of split decision in round 3. Ivanov landed 61 of 83 total strikes that he let go in that fight. Lewis ended the night having landed 32 of 69 total strikes. When it comes to significant strikes, Ivanov ended up landing 20 of 38, which gave him a percentage of 52%. He finished the fight landing 12 of 27 significant strikes directed at the head. In terms of stats for the opponent, Lewis ended up landing 45% of the significant strikes he threw by landing 31 of 68. Out of all the significant strikes thrown, he was 21 of 54 to the head. 60% of the significant strikes connected on by Ivanov and 29% of them landed by Lewis were done at a distance.

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In the last fight for Ilir Latifi, he squared up with Volkan Oezdemir and ended up walking away in defeat via a punch to the head in round 2. Oezdemir landed 73% of the significant strikes he tried at a distance while Latifi connected on 94% of his significant strikes at distance. Latifi connected on 30% of the significant strikes he attempted by landing 18 of 60. He landed 16 of 54 significant strikes aimed at the head. Oezdemir ended up connecting on 64 of 137 significant strikes in that contest. In terms of accuracy for the significant strikes, he ended up connecting on 44 of 114 aimed at the head. Regarding total strikes thrown in that contest, Oezdemir was 92 of 166 while Latifi ended up connecting on 20 of 62 of all the strikes he attempted.

Other bouts on the card to watch

Another fight to keep an eye on is when Trevin Giles opposes Antonio Arroyo. Giles looks to add a victory to his career total of 11-2-0. The 27-year-old is weighing in at 185 lbs and measures in at 6' 0". The orthodox fighter reaches 74". Arroyo stands in at 6' 3" and steps on the scale at 185 lbs. The orthodox fighter will be looking to add a win to his career record of 9-3-0. The 30-year-old extends his reach 73". In the grappling category, Trevin Giles takes his opponents to the mat 1.95 times per 3 rds and Antonio Arroyo takes his opponents to the canvas 1.95 times per 15 minutes. In the striking category, Giles tags his opponents 3.25 strikes/minute and landing 61% of the strikes that he attempts. The other fighter in this bout is Antonio Arroyo, who tags his opponent on 69% of his attempted strikes and is connecting on 3.12 per min.

If you're going to be watching the fights, don't miss when Mario Bautista is set to enter the Octagon against Miles Johns. Johns will be looking to add a win to his career total of 10-0-0. The 25-year-old steps on the scale at 135 lbs and measures in at 5' 7". The orthodox fighter has a reach of 66". Bautista stands in at 5' 9" and tips the scales at 135 lbs. The switch fighter walks into the cage holding a mark of 7-1-0. The 26-year-old reaches 69". In the category of takedowns, Miles Johns is able to prevent 85% of his opponents' takedown attempts and is taking his opponents down on 66% of his attempts. Bautista is taking his opponents to the mat on 33% of his tries and is able to prevent 57% of the takedowns his opponents try. With reference to striking, Johns absorbs 2.30 strikes per minute and he is landing 3.47 strikes per min. Bautista, moreover, is absorbing 6.05 strikes per min and connects on 7.45 per minute.

Who will win tonight's UFC match against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Ilir Latifi (+235)

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