Derrick Lewis has usually mentioned that he has little interest in a five-round title struggle at this level in his profession, however the 40-year-old should rethink after stopping Tillerson Teixeira 35 seconds into Saturday’s UFC Combat Night time primary occasion in Nashville.
Lewis has gained three out of his final 4 fights to re-establish himself as a high risk within the heavyweight division after a three-fight dropping streak between 2022 and 2023 threatened his profession. Because the all-time UFC KO/TKO chief with 16, Lewis has grow to be one of the vital standard fighters within the division. His hilarious post-fight interviews have definitely performed a component 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 pressured 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 towards Aspinall in a potential title struggle after his assertion efficiency on Saturday may very well 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 yr towards Aspinall, particularly since you merely can’t belief Jones’ willingness to struggle and his potential to remain clear from one month to the following.
It ought to be comparatively straightforward to promote the struggle to Lewis, contemplating the potential payday and the close to certainty {that a} bout between the 2 knockout artists will finish throughout the first three rounds anyway.
“I consider nearly each struggle that I’ve misplaced, I misplaced it was as a result of I simply received drained,” Lewis mentioned. “My spouse will let you know 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 might by no means occur once more.”
Donald Trump spoke to Lewis on the telephone instantly after the struggle, 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 contributors 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 received him on the telephone and put him on the telephone with him. I don’t know what they talked about—perhaps (Lewis) was attempting to hook himself up with a struggle on the White Home struggle card.”
I’d say that’s a reasonably secure guess. We’ll see the way it seems a yr from now.
