Heavyweights No.4 Derrick Lewis and No. 10 Aleksei Oleinik are in the spotlight this weekend at UFC on ESPN+ 32 Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Both fighters are veterans who have been lurking in the rankings. Lewis even earned a title shot previously, but currently, Oleinik has surged to crack the top 10 with his last two wins.
Kenai Andrews checks in with this thoughts on the main card.
MAIN CARD (9PM ET/6PM PT)
BENEIL DARIUSH (18-4-1) VS. SCOTT HOLTZMAN (14-3-0)
Andrews: Dariush missed weight, which is concerning. I am still going with Beneil, but this gives Holtzman some extra motivation.
Andrews Prediction: Beneil Dariush via UD
YANA KUNITSKAYA (12-5-0, 1NC) VS. JULIJA STOLIARENKO (9-3-2)
Andrews: Kunitskaya is welcoming Stoliarenko, who is a former bareknuckles and lethwei fighter, plus the current Invicta FC Bantamweight champion, to the octagon. I like Kunitskaya, who is a former Invicta title contender, but Julija’s pedigree I think gives her a shot to overcome the UFC jitters and snag the win.
Andrews Prediction: Julija Stoliarenko via TKO
DARREN STEWART (11-5-0, 1NC) VS. MAKI PITOLO (13-5-0)
Andrews: Stewart should be motivated to atone for his embarrassing loss at Cagewarriors, but Pitolo is not a tomato can. I think Pitolo gets this one, too.
Andrews Prediction: Maki Pitolo via UD
CHRIS WEIDMAN (14-5-0) VS. OMARI AKHMEDOV (20-4-1)
Andrews: As Weidman himself noted, he is 1-5-0 in his last six fights. But his chin is done. We should see a good performance from Weidman, but can he survive the big shows Akhmedov will have for him? I don’t think he can.
Andrews Prediction: Omari Akhmedov via TKO
DERRICK LEWIS (23-7-0, 1NC) VS. ALEKSEI OLEINIK (59-13-1)
Andrews: Lewis needs to land. If he doesn’t, Aleksei will make him gas, then drag him to the mat for the tap.
Andrews Prediction: Aleksei Oleinik via TKO
