UFC's Derrick Lewis Fights an Undefeated Ex-Kickboxer This Weekend

Derrick Lewis takes on a fresh challenge at UFC Edmonton this week.

Jeff Swinger-Imagn Images

Derrick Lewis faces his stiffest striking matchup in a while when he takes on former GLORY kickboxer-turned-undefeated mixed martial artist Jhonata Diniz this weekend at UFC Edmonton.

Diniz is 8-0 in MMA, 2-0 UFC, with an 88 percent finish rate, all by KO/TKO. He debuted against Austen Lane in April and most recently upset Karl Williams' seven-fight streak in August.

Louis Grasse/AgFight

Diniz concluded his kickboxing career with 22 wins (15 knockouts) and seven losses. In his GLORY kickboxing career, he lost to current heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven and defeated top-ten light heavyweight Igor Jurkovic.

With this fight, No. 11 Lewis has the opportunity to put together his first UFC winning streak since 2021. He is currently 2-3 in his last five performances and is slowly dropping out of the heavyweight rankings.

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