Derrick Lewis has usually mentioned that he has little interest in a five-round title battle at this level in his profession, however the 40-year-old must rethink after stopping Tillerson Teixeira 35 seconds into Saturday’s UFC Combat Evening essential occasion in Nashville.
Lewis has received 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 turn out to be some of the in style fighters within the division. His hilarious post-fight interviews have actually performed a component in his rise as properly, 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 actually no Jon Jones, however squaring him up towards Aspinall in a potential title battle 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 towards Aspinall, particularly since you merely can’t belief Jones’ willingness to battle and his capacity to remain clear from one month to the following.
It must be comparatively simple to promote the battle 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 battle that I’ve misplaced, I misplaced it was as a result of I simply bought 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 might by no means occur once more.”
Donald Trump spoke to Lewis on the cellphone instantly after the battle, fairly actually as the choice was being learn, so the presumption is that the knockout king is without doubt one of the president’s most popular members within the White Home occasion.
“Derrick came to visit 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 bought him on the cellphone and put him on the cellphone with him. I don’t know what they talked about—perhaps (Lewis) was attempting to hook himself up with a battle on the White Home battle card.”
I’d say that’s a fairly secure guess. We’ll see the way it seems a 12 months from now.