The UFC returns to the Apex one final time in 2021, finishing off the year with a heavyweight showdown atop the UFC Vegas 45 card.
In a chance to establish himself in the top half of the division, #7 ranked Chris Daukaus, 4-0 in the Ultimate Fighting Championship to date, will attempt to topple the #3 ranked Derrick Lewis. For as much as rankings really matter, this is a big fight: just over seven years ago, Lewis entered the promotion’s heavyweight pool as the next big thing, scary but unrefined. Over the years, he’s become a fan favorite for both his sense of humor and fighting style. Twice, Lewis has challenged for gold in the UFC.
Daukaus, four years younger, is looking to usurp his position in the upper echelon of the division. A win over Lewis wouldn’t necessarily mean a title shot for Daukaus — but it would put him arguably just a fight, or two at most, away.
UFC Vegas 45 takes place Saturday, December 18, 2021 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV. The official weigh-in for the event goes down Friday — check below for results.
Three fighters came in heavy at Friday’s official weigh-in. Macy Chiasson, who has fought as a bantamweight since winning TUF 28 at 145lbs, came in 2.5lbs over the featherweight limit for her fight with Raquel Pennington.
Sijara Eubanks, in just her second fight back at flyweight, also came in heavy, 1.5lbs over the non-title limit. It is the second time Eubanks has come in heavy in the weight class, though she also lost out on fighting for the inaugural 125lb title after complications from her weight cut ahead of the The Ultimate Fighter 26 finale.
Finally, Justin Tafa has earned the dubious distinction of becoming the first fighter in UFC history to miss weight for a heavyweight fight. He came in one pound over the limit, at 267lbs for his fight with Harry Hunsucker.
UFC Vegas 45: Lewis vs. Daukaus Weigh-In Results
Main Card
Heavyweight: Derrick Lewis (265) vs. Chris Daukaus (235.5)
Welterweight: Stephen Thompson (170.5) vs. Belal Muhammad (170.5)
Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Lemos (115) vs. Angela Hill (115.5)
Bantamweight: Raphael Assunção vs. Ricky Simón (135.5)
Lightweight: Carlos Diego Ferreira (156) vs. Mateusz Gamrot (155.5)
Featherweight: Cub Swanson (145.5) vs. Darren Elkins (145.5)
Preliminary card
Middleweight: Dustin Stoltzfus (185.5) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (185.5)
Bantamweight: Raoni Barcelos (135.5) vs. Victor Henry (136)
Heavyweight: Justin Tafa (267)* vs. Harry Hunsucker (238.5)
Women’s Flyweight: Sijara Eubanks (127.5)** vs. Melissa Gatto (125)
Featherweight: Charles Jourdain (145.5) vs. Andre Ewell (145)
Women’s Bantamweight: Raquel Pennington (145) vs. Macy Chiasson (148.5)***
Heavyweight: Don’Tale Mayes (256.5) vs. Josh Parisian (262)
Lightweight: Jordan Leavitt (155.5) vs. Matt Sayles (155.5)
* Tafa misses heavyweight limit by 1lb, becomes first heavyweight in history to miss weight
** Eubanks misses flyweight limit by 1.5lbs
*** Chiasson misses featherweight limit by 2.5lbs
