Derrick Lewis has usually mentioned that he has little interest in a five-round title combat at this level in his profession, however the 40-year-old should rethink after stopping Tillerson Teixeira 35 seconds into Saturday’s UFC Combat Evening fundamental occasion in Nashville.
Lewis has gained three out of his final 4 fights to re-establish himself as a high menace within the heavyweight division after a three-fight shedding streak between 2022 and 2023 threatened his profession. Because the all-time UFC KO/TKO chief with 16, Lewis has turn out to be some of the standard fighters within the division. His hilarious post-fight interviews have definitely performed an element in his rise as effectively, as loads of informal followers tune into his usually nationally televised fights simply to see what he has to say afterward.
It’s no secret that the heavyweight division is in near-crisis mode after Jon Jones’ retirement compelled the UFC into crowning Tom Aspinall because the interim champion at a post-fight press convention in Azerbaijan. Lewis is definitely no Jon Jones, however squaring him up in opposition to Aspinall in a potential title combat after his assertion efficiency on Saturday could possibly be simply what the division must get the ball rolling once more.
Maybe Lewis ought to even be the American who headlines the potential UFC occasion on the White Home subsequent 12 months in opposition to Aspinall, particularly since you merely can’t belief Jones’ willingness to combat and his skill to remain clear from one month to the following.
It needs to be comparatively simple to promote the combat to Lewis, contemplating the potential payday and the close to certainty {that a} bout between the 2 knockout artists will finish inside the first three rounds anyway.
“I consider nearly each combat that I’ve misplaced, I misplaced it was as a result of I simply acquired drained,” Lewis mentioned. “My spouse will inform you that I hate these losses as a result of I do know I used to be higher than these guys in there. I do know it could by no means occur once more.”
Donald Trump spoke to Lewis on the cellphone instantly after the combat, fairly actually as the choice was being learn, so the presumption is that the knockout king is likely one of the president’s most popular individuals within the White Home occasion.
“Derrick came visiting and mentioned the place’s the president,” UFC President Dana White mentioned. “I mentioned he’s not right here tonight, however he’s watching and I acquired him on the cellphone and put him on the cellphone with him. I don’t know what they talked about—possibly (Lewis) was making an attempt to hook himself up with a combat on the White Home combat card.”
I’d say that’s a fairly secure wager. We’ll see the way it seems a 12 months from now.
