UFC Fight Night 50 Date: September 5, 2014 Arena: Foxwoods Resort Casino City: Ledyard, CT Heavyweight bout: Matt Mitrione (+140) vs Derrick Lewis (-150) Fight Breakdown: The main card for UFC Fight Night 50 in Connecticut will be featuring a heavyweight contest in the form of Matt Mitrione vs Derrick Lewis, with Mitrione being an underdog at +140 ($100 to win $140) and Lewis being the favorite on the moneyline at -150 ($150 to win $100) at Several Bookmakerss. Matt Mitrione (7-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) is the only fighter on the UFC roster other than Amir Sadollah that has had all of his professional mixed martial arts bouts inside the Octagon. He is coming off a first round knockout of Shawn Jordan and will be looking to make it two in a row against Lewis. The former football player is very fast and athletic, and he packs a lot of power behind his strikes, especially his right hand, as was evident by his one-punch, walk-off knockout of Christian Morecraft; not to mention the fact that Phil De Fries got knocked out just running into him. He lacks a ground game, but he has constantly been improving his striking, especially now that he is working with the great Henri Hooft at the Blackzilians camp in Boca Raton, FL. The 36-year old is technical and effective with his strikes, but does not always have the best fight IQ. Sometimes he starts out fighting smart, but then makes errors that cost him. “Meathead” is a well-conditioned heavyweight and will have enough gas in his tank to go all 15 minutes in this one, should the fight go the distance. Derrick Lewis (11-2-1 NC MMA, 2-0 UFC) made his promotional debut at UFC on FOX 11 back in April, scoring an impressive first round knockout over Jack May. He followed that up with another impressive first round knockout in his next outing at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale just two months ago, this time his victim being the Brazilian Guto Inocente, who has since dropped down to the light heavyweight division. The Bellator and RFA veteran has solid boxing, and more importantly, melon-busting, bone-smashing, fear-instilling knockout power. His hands are the equivalent of Edson Barboza’s kicks, as they are amongst the most dangerous weapons in the UFC. “The Black Beast” also likes to implement kicks into his striking attack, often attempting a variety of them. While powerful on the feet, he does most of his damage in the clinch and on the mat. He is effective with his dirty boxing and incredibly vicious with his ground and pound attack, as was evident with his Octagon knockouts of both May and Inocente. Training out of the Silverback Fight Club in Houston, TX, I think Lewis’ cardio will be in check for a full three rounds of action against The Ultimate Fighter season 10 veteran, should the scrap reach the judges’ scorecards. Gabe’s Thoughts: I think Lewis is the more well-rounded mixed martial artist in this match-up and is the heavyweight who will be carrying the advantage in power with him as he steps inside the Octagon. I could see a finish coming in this fight on either end, as it is a heavyweight bout, after-all. I think Lewis has the better odds of finishing the fight, and should it hit the judges’ scorecards for a decision, I also favor him to pick up the nod there, as he is the more well-rounded fighter with an advantage in grappling, which could prove to be the difference in this three-round heavyweight affair. I think Lewis has more routes to victory in this contest and favor him to get his hand raised tomorrow night, making him 3-0 inside the Octagon and putting him on a nine-fight unbeaten streak. Gabe’s Call: Lewis by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Derrick Lewis (-150) 3u to win 2u
