It’s going down at 205 pounds on Saturday night, as light heavyweight prospects Billy Elekana and Lucas Fernando collide at UFC Fight Night: Cortes Acosta vs. Walker inside the Meta APEX.
Elekana (10–2 MMA, 3–1 UFC) has won three in a row, capped by a second-round submission victory over Junior Tafa at UFC 325 in January. Fernando (14–3 MMA, 1–0 UFC) hit the ground running in his promotional debut in August, notching a third-round TKO win against Rafael Tobias at UFC 330.
Fernando enters as a heavy -325 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Elekana is a +260 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 1.5 rounds.
Billy Elekana vs. Lucas Fernando Fight Preview
Billy Elekana
- 10–2 MMA (3–1 UFC)
- 3–0 (T)KO
- 3–1 SUB
Despite riding a three-fight winning streak, Billy Elekana heads into Saturday night with plenty to prove. The California native, 31, arrives in Las Vegas with notable cardio and durability concerns; he got dropped in his last fight against a beleaguered Junior Tafa before rallying for a second-round submission win. The “Son of Susie” has won two in a row by tap-out, and he’ll likely have to continue leaning on his ground game against the hard-hitting Lucas Fernando.
Lucas Fernando
- 14–3 MMA (1–0 UFC)
- 8–0 (T)KO
- 2–0 SUB
Lucas Fernando made a marvelous first impression earlier this year. Debuting against Rafael Tobias, the 29-year-old Brazilian put his high-level striking on full display — flooring his opponent twice en route to a third-round TKO win. Fernando heads into Saturday night on a five-fight surge, punctuated by three straight finishes since moving up to light heavyweight. The former two-division LFA champion will likely look to extend his highlight reel as he works towards more gold in the UFC.
Billy Elekana vs. Lucas Fernando Pick, Best Bet
While Billy Elekana heads into Saturday night with some question marks, Lucas Fernando looks like the real deal. His striking is crisp and powerful, and he should make things tough on Elekana after he got decked in his last fight. With three straight wins by knockout or TKO, Fernando should keep the trend alive with another statement finish.
