UFC heavyweight contenders Derrick Lewis and Alexandr Romanov will have new opponents to contend with in Edmonton this November. That’s after the promotion cut their original co-main event in two.
Lewis and Romanov were recently announced as the co-headliner for the promotion’s return to the Canadian city, setting the stage for top women’s flyweight contenders Erin Blanchfield and Rose Namajunas.
It’s not taken long for those plans to change, however. The Nov. 2 card at Rogers Place will now see Lewis (28-12, 1 NC) do battle with the unranked Jhonata Diniz (8-0) in the co-main event. Romanov (17-3), meanwhile, will see his chance to bounce back come against “The Black Beast’s” most recent opponent, Rodrigo Nascimento (11-2, 1 NC).
News of Lewis vs. Diniz was first reported by Laerta Viana, with MMA Junkie’s Nolan King subsequently confirming both new matchups for the Edmonton-held UFC Fight Night.
Prospect Diniz Gets First Shot At Heavyweight Rankings Opposite UFC Vet Lewis
The co-main event split presents a major opportunity for Diniz, who now has the chance to earn a number next to his name at the expense of a former title challenger and one of the division’s most notable names.
The 33-year-old Brazilian moved to 8-0 as a professional at the Apex-held UFC Fight Night on August 10, outpointing Karl Williams for his second victory in the promotion since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series last September. He’ll now look to move into contention by recording his biggest win to date in “The Great White North.”
Lewis, meanwhile, will be in pursuit of his first win streak since a knockout of Curtis Blaydes secured him a title shot back in 2021. He’s since gone 3-5, most recently rebounding from a comfortable decision defeat to Jailton Almeida in Brazil last November by stopping Nascimento in the headline act of UFC Fight Night St. Louis this past May.
While Nascimento looks to rebound from that result, Romanov was most recently submitted by Almeida at UFC 302 in Newark this past June. That defeat prevented the Moldovan from returning to a win streak, having previously gotten the better of Blagoy Ivanov in 2023.
With these changes, the fights currently expected to take place at UFC Fight Night Edmonton on Nov. 2 are as follows:
- Erin Blanchfield vs. Rose Namajunas (women’s flyweight main event)
- Derrick Lewis vs. Jhonata Diniz (heavyweight co-main event)
- Ariane da Silva vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (women’s flyweight)
- Marc-André Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (middleweight)
- Alexandr Romanov vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (heavyweight)
- Chad Anheliger vs. Cody Gibson (bantamweight)
- Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Ivana Petrovi? (women’s flyweight)
Jhonata Diniz has POWER
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