UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Dos Santos Preview

The UFC is headed to the Midwest this weekend with a 13-bout event in Wichita, Kansas. At the forefront of the event, heavyweight Derrick Lewis takes on Junior Dos Santos in a five round bout to determine who rises in the heavyweight division. Coverage for the event begins at 2 p.m.Pacific leading up to the main card at 5 p.m. only on ESPN+.

Lewis is coming off a title challenge loss in which he was submitted in the second round last November. Before that loss, he was on a three-fight win streak, including a come-from-behind knockout of Alexander Volkov. Lewis hopes to regain some of that momentum this weekend in hopes for another crack at the title shot. Dos Santos, on the other hand, is on a two-fight win streak and seems refreshed after a long layoff. The former heavyweight champion looks to make it three in a row and find his way back to a title shot. With the heavyweight division being slightly shallow, a dominating performance from either fighter can throw their name into the conversation for another title shot.

Look for this fight to remain standing, as Dos Santos is notorious for being difficult to take down. In fact, Dos Santos has an 80 percent takedown defense. He is also the better of the two using distance to strike. He stands as a slight favorite heading into Saturday night.

Also on the card, Welterweight fighters Curtis Millender and Elizeu Zaleski Dos Santos meet to see who can advance in the welterweight division. With former champion Tyron Woodley recently dethroned, the welterweight division is eager to see who can match up with new titleholder Kamaru Usman. Both these men are coming in with win streaks to defend. Millender is on a nine-fight win streak and Zaleski Dos Santos is on a six-fight win streak. Suffice it to say both men will put everything on the line to make sure their win streak holds strong.

The rest of the main card showcases two middleweight matchups to determine who cracks the top 15. A heavyweight matchup with ranking implications. And finally, a welterweight matchup that has top 10 ranking implications.

Tune in this Saturday for UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Dos Santos only on ESPN+.