MMA News

Tag: Derrick Lewis

  • Lewis: The Satisfaction Of A KO Is One Of The Best Feelings In The World

    Derrick Lewis is never happier than after delivering a fresh knockout.

    “The Black Beast” Derrick Lewis is one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC. His ability to end a fight with his fists is like no other. It’s not just that Lewis has great knockout power, it’s that he loves to use it.

    Lewis is getting ready for his next fight against another string striker in Tai Tuivasa at UFC 271, and although it might be smart to look for a submission in this bout, Lewis explains why that is unlikely.

    “I would [look for a submission]. But I get so much more satisfaction if I knock somebody out,” Lewis said at UFC 271 media day via MMA Junkie. “It’s way more (satisfying)… It’s like, one of the best feelings in the world. Submission is cool and all that, but the satisfaction is not there. There’s way more satisfaction whenever you knock a grown man out.”

    Derrick Lewis makes
    Image via UFC broadcast

    Lewis’ last four fights all finished in KO or TKO. Although he was on the losing side of one of those, it just goes to show how his fighting style is. He is a strong competitor on the feet and is constantly looking to win the fight with one shot.

    Tuivasa has that same trait. “Bam Bam” has four wins in a row by KO. At UFC 271, both men will likely be looking for the finish, and that’s what makes this fight so much fun.

    Lewis has had his shots at a UFC title and another one may not get granted. Being aware of this, Lewis is just looking to go in there and have fun. And if knocking people out is fun to him, he has had the time of his life inside the UFC Octagon.

    Do you think it would be smart for Lewis to try for a knockout against Tua Tuivasa?

  • Tuivasa Turns The Tables On Lewis’ ‘Cup Shoey’ Proposal

    UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa has turned the heat up on the UFC 271 ‘shoey’ stakes by offering to drink a beer from Derrick Lewis’ cup.

    Has there ever been a matchup in the UFC where the possible post-fight celebration was talked about as much as it has been ahead of Tuivasa vs. Lewis?

    In the UFC 271 co-main event this weekend, we’ll see the UFC’s most prolific knockout artist face one of the hardest-hitting heavyweights, who’s on a knockout trail that’s left unconscious bodies in his wake.

    But what is the leading narrative ahead of this Octagon-shaking collision? Drinking beer from a shoe. Actually, scratch that, from a cup…

    In 2021, Tuivasa accomplished many things. He brought ’90’s pop back on the agenda with his memorable walkout anthems, he developed into a bona fide contender by extending his win streak to four with brutal KOs of Greg Hardy and Augusto Sakai, he cemented himself as perhaps the most universally loved athlete on the UFC roster, and he brought the ‘shoey’ into the mainstream.

    What has last year’s success brought him in 2022? Well, aside from his own business venture in the form of the ‘shoeyvasa’, a date with “The Black Beast.”

    Ahead of the highly-anticipated heavyweight bout, which represents a big opportunity for the 28-year-old to throw his name into the title conversation, Lewis hinted he could match Tuivasa’s trademark celebration with his own interesting take on the beer-drinking practice.

    Carrying on from his UFC Vegas 45 cup throw, the two-time title challenger suggested he could treat himself to a beer from inside his own groin guard if he’s successful in front of his home crowd on Saturday night.

    Having heard that proposal, Tuivasa went one better at UFC 271 media day on Wednesday. Wanting some of that “latte” action, as Lewis described it, “Bam Bam” said he was keen to chug a beverage from Lewis’ cup.

    “He can throw it to me when I win and I’ll do a cuppy out of his ball guard then [LAUGHS]. I’m keen.”

    Judging by Lewis’ response, the Australian appears to have found his American UFC peer’s line…

    Lewis On Tuivasa’s ‘Cuppy’ Request: “That Guy’s Nasty”

    During his own media day appearance, Lewis was told about Tuivasa’s willingness for a warm-ball “Black Beast” special (don’t expect to see that in your local anytime soon…).

    It’s fair to say the 37-year-old will be keeping his guard firmly inside his shorts if the Aussie gets the win on Saturday night.

    “Oh, that guy’s nasty man, I can’t do that,” said Lewis. “I don’t know. USADA needa be knocking on his door all the time, he’s gotta be taking something for his immune system. That is just nasty.”

    Whatever happens, it seems fans can be sure of a few things come fight night; a KO/TKO, a can of beer entering the Octagon in the aftermath, and either a ‘shoey’ or a ‘cuppy’. Outside of that, we could see a new contender enter the heavyweight fray or an eight-year UFC veteran maintain his place among the heavyweight elite.

    The term “people’s main event” gets thrown around more and more these days, but not many matchups embody the phrase quite like the UFC 271 co-main.

    Who do you think will be left celebrating with a ‘shoey’ or ‘cuppy’ in the UFC 271 co-main event, Tai Tuivasa or Derrick Lewis?

  • Tai Tuivasa: Either Mine Or Lewis’ Head Is Coming Off At UFC 271

    UFC heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa isn’t expecting his UFC 271 co-main event bout against Derrick Lewis to go the distance.

    Tuivasa is on a four-fight winning streak heading into his showcase at UFC 271. All four of the wins have come by knockout against the likes of Augusto Sakai and Greg Hardy.

    Tuivasa and Lewis are both knockout artists, which is sure to entice fans watching the second UFC pay-per-view of 2022. While both men seem to have respect for one another, it’s no secret that anything other than a finish in their fight would come as a shock.

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Tuivasa gave his thoughts on the matchup and how he sees it playing out.

    “I’m excited man,” Tuivasa said. “We go out there to fight and we go out there to take people’s heads off. So it’s either gonna be mine or his. I’m excited. One of us is gonna get a hiding… It’s (KO) gonna come when it comes. I’ve gotta be a bit smart as well. He’s got the name ‘Knockout King’ for a reason. I’ve gotta go out there and be a bit smart about it.”

    Lewis is looking to get a second chance in front of his Houston, TX hometown after losing to Ciryl Gane for the interim title at UFC 265. He has since earned a dominant first-round knockout over Chris Daukaus last December.

    Tuivasa and Lewis are both fan favorites due to their persona in and out of the cage. Tuivasa is known for his post-fight shoeys, which he might’ve had when the bout was offered in the first place.

    The heavyweight showdown between Tuivasa and Lewis not only has potential title implications but is a chance for both men to make a statement in front of another raucous crowd.

    What is your prediction for Tai Tuivasa vs. Derrick Lewis?

  • Derrick Lewis Open To ‘Cup Shoey’ At UFC 271 On One Condition

    UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis has proposed an alternative celebration to the shoey if he emerges victorious over upcoming opponent Tai Tuivasa at UFC 271 this weekend

    In Saturday’s co-main event, we’ll see a collision of many things. As well as the incredible meeting of power that will take place when Tuivasa and Lewis share the Octagon inside Houston’s Toyota Center, we’ll also see two of the most entertaining and universally loved fighters on the roster compete.

    “The Black Beast” will be looking to carry the momentum of his impressive main event rebound performance last time out. At UFC Vegas 45 in December, Lewis quickly moved past his disappointing interim title loss to Ciryl Gane by brutally knocking out rising contender Chris Daukaus.

    “Bam Bam,” meanwhile, will be looking to extend his four-fight win streak and take a significant leap up the ladder. The #11-ranked heavyweight has knocked out Stefan Struve, Harry Hunsucker, Greg Hardy, and Augusto Sakai since falling to a three-fight skid in 2019.

    Despite two vicious KOs in 2021, the main attraction of Tuivasa’s latest wins have been his infamous shoeys, performed both atop the cage wall and throughout the crowd on his way to the back.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXXY0h7pD-m/

    Ahead of Tuivasa and Lewis’ clash, one thing has appeared certain: a knockout.

    But while it seemed we’d only be getting treated to another entertaining display of post-fight beer-drinking if the Australian powerhouse gets the finish, the Houston native has proposed a unique celebration of his own.

    While it involves a different utensil, it’s certainly just as, if not more, nasty.

    Lewis Proposes A Shoey Alternative

    During a recent interview with Morning Kombat‘s Brian Campbell, Lewis was asked if he’s planning his own special celebration if he manages to secure a win in front of his hometown crowd.

    While he shut the door on the idea of a shoey, which he’s previously made his views on very clear, “The Black Beast” proposed a follow-up on his cup throw from UFC Vegas 45. But instead of throwing the cup to the crowd, how about a refreshing beverage from inside of it? Lewis said he’d be open to doing just that on the condition that he gets his arm raised Saturday.

    “Nah, I can’t do nothing like that (a shoey), nah. I’d say I’ll take my cup off and drink beer out of that. That’s as far as I’ll go.”

    While Lewis says that’s as far as he’d go, one has to wonder how much further than drinking a beer from a used cup he could go…

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZPqYULhg8F/

    What have we learned from this? When it comes to beer and feet, Lewis says a big no; but with beer and balls, the answer is absolutely.

    What would you rather see at UFC 271, a traditional Tai Tuivasa shoey or an unorthodox Derrick Lewis cup shoey?

  • Ngannou After Jackass Cup Test Scene: “Did He Really Have A Nut?”

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou appears in Jackass Forever and will be featured in a very violent scene.

    Francis Ngannou captured UFC gold last March when he stopped a former foe in two-time heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic in the second round. After landing a role in the long-awaited film Jackass Forever, the newly minted heavyweight champion will be shown looking to earn gold in a different area of expertise in the film.

    Ahead of its release, Ngannou helped lead viewers through an extended preview of what is being called the “cup test scene,” where Ngannou hits a man (Ehren McGhehey) in the groin at full strength. McGhehey was wearing a cup, but did it make a difference?

    While having a Ford Escort crash into your privates will always leave a mark—if not physically then emotionally—apparently, the cup test was a success. So much so that Ngannou was left wondering, “Did he really have a nut?” when all was said and done.

    You can check out the graphic scene’s extended preview along with Ngannou’s commentary below.

    This isn’t the first time we have seen Francis Ngannou in Hollywood. In fact, the heavyweight champ popped up in a cameo appearance for Fast & Furious 9.

    After Ngannou retained the UFC heavyweight championship at UFC 270 last weekend, many people began to wonder what the future holds for the Cameroonian as he remains in a tense contract dispute with the UFC. But whatever the future holds, at least the heavyweight champion now has Hollywood in his back pocket.

    Jackass Forever hits theaters nationwide today, Friday, February 4, 2022.

    Will you be watching Francis Ngannou in Jackass Forever this weekend?

  • Tai Tuivasa Admits To Accepting Derrick Lewis Fight While ‘Blind Drunk’

    UFC heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa has admitted to being “blind” drunk when he agreed to go toe-to-toe with Derrick Lewis at UFC 271 next weekend.

    In a rare example of a fight where a knockout is almost guaranteed, #3-ranked Lewis and #11-ranked Tuivasa will meet in Houston’s Toyota Center for an Octagon-sharing heavyweight collision on February 12.

    For “Bam Bam,” the co-main event contest will represent the opportunity for him to extend his win streak to five and climb to within touching distance of a title shot that was beyond unlikely just two years ago.

    Lewis, meanwhile, fell short of UFC gold again last August when he was finished by Ciryl Gane at UFC 265. Now, “The Black Beast” is after fun and pressure-free fights for the remainder of his UFC days. There aren’t many fighters who encapsulate the word “fun” quite like Tuivasa.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZPihJZBWIx/

    While a clash with Lewis would be seen as a daunting task by most, and also a fantastic opportunity for Tuivasa to rise the ranks, “Bam Bam” has revealed he may not have been thinking clearly when he agreed to trade blows with the Louisiana native…

    “I was on the piss; I was blind [drunk],” Tuivasa revealed to ESPN. “I didn’t notice until the next morning that [UFC matchmaker] Mick Maynard messaged me and I had messaged back. He messaged, ‘Are you awake,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah.’ It was like 4:30 in the morning. And then I woke up to 20 missed calls from my manager, from my coach Sully [Shaun Sullivan] and sh*t like that, so I was like, ‘Something must have happened.’

    “And then it come up, and why not? Why wouldn’t I?” Tuivasa continued. “It’s a great opportunity. Obviously, he’s #2 or #3 or whatever he is. He’s a fan favorite; I’m a fan favorite. I really respect Derrick, what he’s done and the person he is… Why wouldn’t I say yes? I think it’s all win-win, it’s an opportunity for me, so I’m all in. And I think it’s my time, it’s my time to take over and become the new [revered] fighter of my generation, just like he was before me. I think it’s my time to take over.”

    While a fighter accepting a bout while five-plus beers deep would usually be surprising, this isn’t, for a few reasons.

    Firstly, one would imagine you’d have to be slightly intoxicated to accept a fight with Lewis. “The Black Beast” is the most prolific knockout artist in UFC history. Out of his 17 victories in the promotion, 12 have come via knockout. Not only is he a terrifying beast when the cage door shuts, but he’s currently a beast in form, having brutally knocked rising contender Chris Daukaus out cold less than two months ago.

    Secondly, Tuivasa is Tuivasa.

    I could almost leave it at that, but I’ll provide some context. “Bam Bam,” you could say, is partial to a beverage. Almost in the same way Tom Brady is partial to throwing a football…

    From the man who brings us copious amounts of shoeys after each victory and has even created his own drinking device called the “shoeyvasa,” is a drunk fight acceptance all too surprising? It seems like the classic Tuivasa fans have come to know and love.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CY9kbzsMZn0/

    Lewis Brands Tuivasa’s Shoeys As “Nasty”

    Tuivasa’s post-fight shoeys following his first-round KO triumphs over Greg Hardy and Augusto Sakai last year had Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena roaring and fans across the world entertained. But if Lewis could use one word to describe the beer-drinking practice, it would be “nasty.”

    During a recent interview on Fox Sports’ Main Event, “The Black Beast” praised Tuivasa for finishing Hardy last July, but also questioned his post-fight tradition. Those expecting a Lewis shoey anytime soon will be bitterly disappointed.

    “Yeah, he’s good man. I like him, I like Tai. And I really appreciate him knocking out Greg Hardy like he did in that fight. Greg was talking a lot of trash at me. So I appreciate him,” said Lewis. “But I just don’t like the shoe, the beer drinking out the shoe, what y’all do out there. I don’t like it, that’s nasty. My feet smell cheesy.”

    It seems like Lewis’ feet often get hot, as well as his balls…

    While Tuivasa has established the shoey as his trademark post-fight celebration, Lewis is yet to bring out a quirky tradition that involves the fans in attendance. That’s except for throwing his cup into the Apex crowd last time out in Vegas.

    How about a wager? If Tuivasa wins, Lewis has to do a shoey inside the Octagon, but if Lewis wins, Tuivasa has to take Lewis’ cup home? Although, knowing the Aussie’s care-free attitude, he’d probably frame it and hang it on his wall…

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 271, Tai Tuivasa or Derrick Lewis?

  • Derrick Lewis Reveals His Personal Business Aspiration

    UFC heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis has revealed the business aspiration he’s looking to pursue in the near future.

    Like many athletes on the UFC roster, Lewis wants to balance his Octagon activity with ventures outside of fighting. In terms of his performances inside the cage, “The Black Beast” had a mixed bag in 2021 but added two brutal knockouts to his collection and ended the year in style.

    In his first appearance, Lewis took out top contender Curtis Blaydes, who was rendered unconscious by a vicious uppercut as he changed levels. That performance cemented the 36-year-old’s championship opportunity, which came in the form of an interim title bout against Ciryl Gane after Francis Ngannou’s inability to make the UFC 265 date.

    In front of his hometown Houston crowd, Lewis was picked apart and finished in the third round by “Bon Gamin.” But despite the disappointment of that result, Lewis was quick to bounce back, closing out the UFC’s account for 2021 by sleeping Chris Daukaus in the final main event of the year.

    Lewis: From KO Artist To Businessman

    While Lewis’ record-breaking KO on December 18 provided an impressive and immediate rebound from his August setback, it also provided the New Orleans-born powerhouse the type of matchup he’s targeting for the rest of his Octagon career: fun and pressure-free contests.

    With that in mind, it seems like the perfect time for Lewis to balance his fighting career with his ambitions outside the cage, especially with his title aspirations seemingly in the past.

    Fighter-owned businesses are nothing new. Perhaps the best example of an athlete harnessing their name, popularity, and wealth to create success in the business world is Conor McGregor. As well as his lucrative Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey brand, which he, along with his co-founders, sold the majority stake in for $600,000 last year, the Irishman has dipped his feet in the clothing business with August McGregor and the fitness industry with McGregor Fast.

    Elsewhere, McGregor’s arch-rival Dustin Poirier boasts a successful hot sauce brand, while rising bantamweight star Sean O’Malley is looking to break into the marijuana business. Lewis has now revealed his own ambitions, and it’s perhaps not what most would expect.

    During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, “The Black Beast” announced his intention to explore the business world, naming the creation of a vintage clothing line as his ultimate aim.

    “I’m just trying to open up more businesses,” said Lewis. “Also, I wanna do like, a clothing line store, as well. Like, sell vintage clothing and stuff like that. We’ll see how that goes.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CMBWcwEFGbQ/

    While he still has knockouts on his mind and is hoping to send Stipe Miocic to dreamland at some point in 2022, Lewis appears to have a clear plan for the future.

    In an era where the discrepancies between fighter pay and the remuneration of other athletes is being increasingly highlighted, we’ll likely see a number of UFC stars testing the waters of various businesses moving forward.

    Would you buy from a Derrick Lewis-owned vintage clothing store?

  • Gane Reveals What He Told Lewis Immediately After UFC 265 Fight

    Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane has revealed what he told Derrick Lewis after finishing him in the UFC 265 main event last August.

    2021 was a fantastic year for breakout star Gane. Despite only transitioning from Muay Thai to mixed martial arts in 2018, the Frenchman has built an unblemished 10-0 record, made it to the world’s premier MMA promotion, and had UFC gold wrapped around his waist in the space of just three years.

    After establishing his name with victories over Raphael Passoa, Don’Tale Mayers, and Tanner Boxer, Gane shot up the heavyweight ladder with three main event wins last year. At two UFC Fight Nights, “Bon Gamin” outpointed powerhouse Jairzinho Rozenstruik and veteran striker Alexander Volkov.

    When titleholder Francis Ngannou was unable to defend his championship at Houston’s UFC 265, Gane was drafted in to face Lewis for the interim belt. Making the most of his opportunity, the 31-year-old dominated “The Black Beast” for two-and-a-half rounds, before finishing him via TKO in the third frame.

    Gane Comforted Lewis In The Octagon

    As Gane set up a blockbuster unification showdown with “The Predator,” set for UFC 270 next weekend, Lewis was left wondering what could have been. The veteran knockout artist was visibly upset in the cage, something Gane acknowledged at the time.

    During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Gane revealed what he told Lewis when he went over to his defeated opponent in the Octagon inside the Toyota Center.

    “I said exactly what my feeling at this moment (was). Like, just, ‘I’m really confused, you’re in front of your fans, but it’s going to be okay, and I like you so much. You are really funny.’ I like this guy, really. Derrick Lewis is so (funny). I really like this guy,” said Gane. “And just good feeling, just good feelings. Like, ‘It’s going to be okay, you’re going to jump again into the cage and do very well,’ and he did it. So no, he’s really not finished and that’s why MMA and UFC is beautiful.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWpzhxhMECx/

    While Lewis rebounded in style last month by brutally knocking out rising contender Chris Daukaus in the UFC Vegas 45 main event, Gane has been training hard in preparation for his unification title fight against Ngannou.

    As well as being former teammates at Paris’ MMA Factory gym and the bitter feud between Ngannou and Gane’s coach Fernand Lopez, the champion’s current contractual uncertainty and boxing ambitions have provided a compelling story ahead of the opening UFC pay-per-view of 2022.

    Do you think Ciryl Gane has what it takes to survive Francis Ngannou’s power and leave UFC 270 as the undisputed champion?

  • Curtis Blaydes: I’m Still Better Than Derrick Lewis

    UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes believes that, despite his knockout loss last year, he’s still better than Derrick Lewis.

    Blaydes, a perennial name in the group of elites at heavyweight, had his title charge stalled in 2021 at the hands (or sole right bomb…) of Lewis. In the main event of UFC Vegas 19, the pair collided with a likely championship opportunity on the line.

    Heading into the contest, Blaydes carried the momentum of a four-fight win streak that included triumphs over former UFC champion Junior dos Santos and former Bellator titleholder Alexander Volkov. “The Black Beast,” meanwhile, had knocked out Alexei Oleinik in his prior outing.

    Despite starting well, Blaydes was rendered unconscious in the second frame after changing levels straight into a brutal uppercut. With the victory, Lewis joined Francis Ngannou as only the second man to beat Blaydes and went on to challenge for interim gold against Ciryl Gane.

    Now, in an exclusive interview with MMA News, Blaydes has looked back on his 2021 setback, his hopes for 2022, the heavyweight debut of Jon Jones, and revealed who hits harder out of Lewis and Ngannou.

    Blaydes Believes He Has “More Skills” Than Lewis

    While Lewis was dominated by Gane at UFC 265 last August, Blaydes got back on track a month later at UFC 266. Against another KO artist in Jairzinho Rozenstruik, “Razor” shut down the power opposite him, as he’d intended to do seven months earlier against Lewis, and secured a comfortable unanimous decision victory.

    With his position in the top five cemented and his name back in the title conversation, Blaydes is ready to make another surge to the top, one he believes shouldn’t have been stalled by “The Black Beast.”

    Speaking to MMA News’ James Lynch, Blaydes claimed he is “still better” than Lewis despite the result in February 2021. Ultimately, the 30-year-old believes he boasts more skill than the powerhouse, who Blaydes says defeated him the only way he could, a one-and-done KO blow.

    “I don’t lose to bums, and he ain’t a bum. I know that. I think, stylistically, I should have won that fight,” said Curtis Blaydes. “He won the one way he could win. I took a bad shot, he caught me, but otherwise, apart from that, because I’ve re-watched the fight, he lost that first round, he was on his way to losing that round, and I rushed it and paid the price. That’s always gonna annoy me because I do believe, I know I lost, but I do believe I’m still better than Derrick Lewis. I think I have more skills than him, more ways to win. I’m better athletically. He’s just really good at what he does, which is getting the knockout.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CUXx5GdAGE2/

    Having knocked out Chris Daukaus in December, Lewis will once again fight down the rankings in his next bout as his search for “fun” and pressure-free matchups continues. At UFC 271 next month, he’ll face fellow entertaining hard-hitter Tai Tuivasa.

    Meanwhile, Blaydes will seemingly need to wait for some other fights to play out before his next opponent is set. Targeting an April return, “Razor” believes he could face the loser of this weekend’s unification showdown between Ngannou and Gane.

    Who would you like to see Curtis Blaydes enter the Octagon with next?

  • Ngannou Felt As If He Was Fighting Miocic In His Mind During UFC 226

    The fight with Stipe Miocic took a toll on Francis Ngannou’s mind.

    Francis Ngannou is the UFC heavyweight champion and is a force to be reckoned with. He is lined up for his first title defense against interim champion Ciryl Gane, but in the leadup, Ngannou can’t help but think back to his first shot at the title, his 2018 loss to Stipe Miocic. Ngannou reminisced about this while speaking with Daniel Cormier.

    “The whole Derrick Lewis fight, I was [thinking] like, ‘OK, don’t rush. I mean, I remember in the Octagon in front of Derrick Lewis, was telling myself, ‘Don’t rush. Calm down,” Ngannou said. “Don’t rush. Don’t rush. You have all the time. You have all the time. Until three rounds.”

    The loss against Miocic at UFC 220 was the first of Ngannou’s UFC career. The loss put a halt to the hype train that Ngannou had been riding up until that point. The knockout machine was put through five tough rounds against Miocic, unlike any fight he had been in up to that point. It seemed that the mental toll it took on him continued through his next fight.

    Derrick Lewis believes Francis Ngannou
    Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

     “I swear to God, at the end of the fight, I thought it was like maybe the second round or something,” He explained. “I wasn’t even there. Because I was still fighting Stipe in my mind. I was just like, “Calm down, you’re gonna cut him. You’re gonna have time. Take your time.’ So time was going by, and I wasn’t realizing how fast time was going. I was like, ‘I’m good’ until like, ‘Oh, this is the end?’ I was even surprised.”

    The loss to Miocic and Lewis are the only two stains of Ngannou’s UFC resume to this point. Ngannou got back on track against Curtis Blaydes and racked up four more wins. He found his way back up to Miocic, and this time would not be denied. Ngannou is the champ now and plans to stay there for quite some time. He will have his first test as champ on Jan. 22 at UFC 270.

    What do you think of Ngannou’s mindset and the toll the fight with Stipe Miocic took on him?

  • Derrick Lewis: Gane Fight Would’ve Been Different if It Wasn’t In Houston

    UFC heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis believes his convincing defeat to Ciryl Gane at UFC 265 would have played out differently had it not been in Houston.

    Having built a four-fight win streak, Lewis secured his number one contender spot at the start of 2021 and was expected to challenge for Francis Ngannou’s title in the third quarter of the year. While victories over Blagoy Ivanov, Ilir Latifi, and Alexei Oleinik brought him back to contention, it was the brutal knockout of Curtis Blaydes at UFC Vegas 19 that cemented his second title shot in the UFC.

    After Ngannou couldn’t make the UFC 265 date in August, the promotion’s desire to have Lewis headline in Houston saw the creation of interim gold. The veteran KO artist challenged for it against unbeaten Frenchman Gane.

    While many dreamt of a hometown finish for Lewis, “Bon Gamin” spoiled the party with a stoppage of his own. After perfectly executing the art of hit and don’t be hit and dominating for the best part of two-and-a-half rounds, Gane had the interim title wrapped around his waist following a third-frame TKO.

    Lewis: “I Felt Embarrassed To Fight”

    Despite the immense disappointment of falling short of title glory for the second time in the UFC, Lewis was quick to bounce back. Just four months later, “The Black Beast” closed out the year in style. In the final main event of 2021, he brutally knocked out rising contender Chris Daukaus inside the opening round. In doing so, he broke the record for the most KOs in UFC history, with Daukaus becoming his 13th victim.

    In the aftermath of his rebound victory, Lewis discussed his back and forth year during an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour. During the interaction, the #3-ranked heavyweight contender looked back on his loss to Gane and suggested there were multiple things he should have done differently inside the Toyota Center.

    “I felt embarrassed to fight, that’s all it was. It felt embarrassing, it felt like I should have done a lot more than I did, and just, I was gun-shy the whole fight. I didn’t wanna pull the trigger, and I was too stationary. It’s a lot of stuff, I could go on and on about a lot of things that I should have did different in that fight.”

    When asked whether the pressure of fighting in Houston played a part, Lewis suggested he and his coaches believe the result would have been a lot different had the event been held elsewhere.

    “I say that all the time (that the fight would have been different outside of Houston), I believe that all the time. My coaches believe that as well. Everyone believes it would have been a lot different if it wasn’t in Houston., where all that stuff was going on,” said Lewis.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYcK_TRpe6J/

    Having experienced pressure and expectation like never before at UFC 265, Lewis knows what he wants for the rest of his career: fun and pressure-free fights. That’s exactly what he has lined up for next month.

    At UFC 271, “The Black Beast” will face fellow KO artist Tai Tuivasa. With both men providing some of the most hilarious and entertaining moments in the Octagon and “Bam Bam” describing them as the “fun of the division,” this one certainly fulfills the criteria for Lewis.

    Do you think the UFC 265 main event would have played out differently if Derrick Lewis didn’t have the pressure of a home crowd?

  • Lewis Just Wants Fun & Pressure-Free Fights For The Rest Of His Career

    UFC heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis is hoping to avoid fights like the UFC 265 main event for the remainder of his career in the Octagon.

    After falling to back-to-back losses versus then-champion Daniel Cormier and former titleholder Junior dos Santos, Lewis found the form of his life on the way back to the top of the division.

    Between late 2019 and early 2021, “The Black Beast” secured victories over Blagoy Ivanov and Ilir Latifi on the scorecards and knocked out Alexei Oleinik and Curtis Blaydes with his devastatingly-powerful hands. That four-fight win streak cemented his spot as number-one contender, a status that was expected to see him challenge former opponent Francis Ngannou for the gold.

    But with the UFC’s desire to have Lewis headline Houston’s UFC 265 pay-per-view, and the champion’s inability to make that date, Ciryl Gane was drafted in for a contest for the interim title. In an incredibly disappointing night in front of a home crowd, Lewis was comfortably controlled and beaten throughout, falling to a third-round TKO.

    Four months later, he managed to right some of those wrongs with another brutal KO, this time against rising contender Chris Daukaus inside Las Vegas’ Apex facility at UFC Vegas 45.

    Lewis: “I Don’t Have To Prove Anything”

    For Lewis, it was a relief to return to the atmosphere and setting of a building he described as “perfect” for him. Not only did his December win, which saw him break the record for most KO triumphs in UFC history, provide an instant rebound from his August failing, but it made his future clearer.

    During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Lewis suggested he is finished with the high-intensity fight weeks and pressure-loaded matchups. For the rest of his career, he’s targeting fun and easy-going fights.

    “This last fight helped me. (It was) a big experience difference, coming into this fight. I just really wanted to go into a fight week and not have pressure on myself, and it felt great. I plan on doing that for the rest of my career now. I can just go out there and just have fun. I feel like I don’t have to prove anything. That’s one of the reasons I wanna fight Stipe (Miocic) next.”

    Discussing his experience leading up to his main event clash with Gane at UFC 265, Lewis admitted the pressure put on him was too much for him to handle. To put his nerves into perspective, “The Black Beast” revealed he’d even tried to acquire marijuana to calm him on fight day.

    “I don’t wanna experience that ever again. It was too much pressure. To the point where I was really calling people up like, ‘Let me get some weed off you so I can relax my nerves,’ during fight day; that type of pressure. Never felt it that bad… It felt embarrassing.”

    With his latest remarks, it seems like it’s victory dances, cup-throwing, and a laid-back attitude for Lewis moving forward. If that means more brutal KOs, not many fans will be complaining, that’s for sure.

    Next, Lewis will begin putting his new fun-fight resolution into motion when he faces fellow fan-friendly banger Tai “Bam Bam” Tuivasa at UFC 271.

    What other fights do you still want to see Derrick Lewis in before he departs MMA’s biggest stage?

  • Derrick Lewis Vs. Tai Tuivasa Booked For UFC 271 In Houston

    Heavyweights bangers Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa have a fight in the works for UFC 271.

    For Tuivasa, he gets his wish; and for Lewis, he gets a chance at redemption The news was reported early Friday afternoon by MMAJunkie’s Farah Hannoun. This event will be headlined by Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker 2 for the middleweight championship.

    Lewis (26-8-1) is currently the #3-ranked heavyweight and is looking to build off of his most recent win against Chris Daukaus last month, where he KO’d Daukaus in just over three and a half minutes at UFC Vegas 45. Tuivasa (13-3), the #11-ranked heavyweight, is riding a four-fight win streak that includes three first-round knockouts.

    As much potential this fight has to produce fireworks, it’s more than just that. For Lewis, he gets a chance to show out and put on the performance that his hometown Houston fans deserve. Lewis was disappointed the last time he fought in Houston, where he lost to Ciryl Gane at UFC 265 in an interim heavyweight title fight.

    And “Bam Bam” gets what he wished for. Tuivasa recently stated in an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour that he’d like a potential fight with Derrick Lewis.

    “I’d love to step in the cage with him one day. I think he’s a bit up from me at the moment, especially coming off his last win,” said Tuivasa. “But definitely, I would love to fight Derrick Lewis. We both have good personalities, we are the fun of the division,”

    Who do you have winning between Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa at UFC 271?

  • Tai Tuivasa Interested In Facing Derrick Lewis: ‘We’re The Fun Of This Division’

    Flashy heavyweight Tai Tuivasa is interested in a fight against Derrick Lewis, seeing the hypothetical bout as a clash of fan favorites.

    Tuivasa is riding the momentum of a recent knockout victory over Augusto Sakai at UFC 269. The victory moved his winning streak to a strong four consecutive finish wins and allowed him to show his unique charisma in front of a live crowd.

    But what’s next for Tuivasa is unknown at the moment. In an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Tuivasa mentioned how he wants to return soon, citing March or April as a good time to come back.

    Tuivasa expressed interest when asked about a fight against Lewis. Not only did he see the bout as a clash between two fighters that have a reputation for their comedy, but he also mentioned the value that a win over him would have.

    “I’d love to step in the cage with him one day. I think he’s a bit up from me at the moment, especially coming off his last win,” said Tuivasa. “But definitely, I would love to fight Derrick Lewis. We both have good personalities. We are the fun of this division … He’s a great opponent, he’s a great guy … That’s the way I’d like to prove myself.”

    Lewis Likely Not Next, But Maybe Someday

    Derrick Lewis
    © Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

    A fight between Tuivasa and Lewis could happen someday, but chances are it won’t happen next. While Tuivasa said in his interview that he’s “going to come for everyone this year,” including the top six ranked UFC heavyweights, he also implied that he currently has a fight in the works.

    What’s more, Lewis doesn’t have his sights set on that bout currently. Lewis recently stated that he is focused on facing former UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic. The fight would be Miocic’s return after losing his belt to Francis Ngannou last year.

    Are you personally interested in a fight between Tai Tuivasa and Derrick Lewis?

  • Lewis Explains Why Miocic Fight Would Be A Chance At Redemption

    Derrick Lewis is looking for a fight that means something both to himself and his fans.

    Derrick Lewis is one of the best fighters in the heavyweight division. Although he has never won a UFC title, Lewis has been a mainstay in the top five for many years. Now that his title aspirations might be dimming, Lewis is looking to make a different kind of impact in the division and in his career. Lewis has an idea that excited him for his next Octagon appearance, and he believed it will excite fight fans as well.

    “This last fight helped me,” Lewis told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour about his loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC 265. “It was a big experience difference and I just wanted to finally go into a fight week and not put pressure on myself, and it felt great. I plan on doing that for the rest of my career—just go out there and have fun.

    “I feel like I don’t have to prove anything and that’s one of the reasons why I want to fight Stipe next. I believe that would be a great matchup for the fans and for both of us. He’s more of a wrestler, and I’m more of a wrestler, too. So it would be a great, entertaining fight.”

    Lewis’s last time out was against Chris Daukaus in December. That matchup got Lewis back in the win column following his interim title shot loss to Gane. The loss to Gane was the only blemish on Lewis’s resume in that past six fights. Without the belt around his waist, Lewis is ready for a fresh face next.

    “I’ve fought just about everyone in the division in the top-10. It’d be a new face, new blood, and I believe I’d be a heavy underdog in this fight,” he said. “I can get my fans their money back from the Gane fight.”

    Lewis’s target of Miocic has not been reciprocated at this point. Miocic’s last outing was back in March when he lost his title to Francis Ngannou. Miocic has mentioned waiting on another shot at the belt, but he may be open to a fight in the meantime, and Lewis could be a good option.

    What do you think of the hypothetical matchup between Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis?

  • Derrick Lewis Feels Recent Win Didn’t ‘Erase’ Loss To Ciryl Gane

    Derrick Lewis hasn’t stopped thinking about his loss to Ciryl Gane just yet.

    Despite a highly successful first-round stoppage win against Chris Daukaus in the main event of UFC Vegas 45, Lewis hasn’t put his recent defeat to Gane in the past.

    Lewis returned to the win column on Saturday with his win over Daukaus. Before then, he was finished in an interim UFC heavyweight championship bout against Gane at UFC 265. The fight over the summer was a hard loss for Lewis, as he was nearly shut out by Gane before getting stopped in the third round.

    Lewis was asked if his recent win “erased” his title-fight loss during Saturday’s post-fight press conference. In response, Lewis mentioned the location of the fight as an important factor.

    “I think it really didn’t erase anything because I prefer to get the win in Houston than get the win in the APEX. So it didn’t erase anything. I’m still [gonna] be thinking about it at night.”

    What’s Next For Lewis?

    Derrick Lewis
    Derrick Lewis, Image Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

    If Lewis wants to pick up a win in front of his home state of Texas, he might be able to do so early next year. UFC is currently planning on hosting an event (UFC 271) on February 12th from Houston. When asked if he would want to get on that card, he said he would take a fight if it is only three rounds.

    The win on Saturday night put Lewis back on the right track. The win showed his ability to stop the fast-rising momentum of Daukaus, becoming the first man to beat him in a UFC fight through five bouts.

    Lewis has now won four of his last five bouts. This includes a notable upset victory over Curtis Blaydes from the start of this year.

    What do you think is next for Derrick Lewis?

  • Atlas Reveals The One Thing Lewis Needs To Fulfill Superstar Potential

    Teddy Atlas sees superstar potential in UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis but has identified some room for growth in his already dangerous striking style.

    The legendary boxing trainer recently praised and critiqued the ranked UFC fighter on his podcast. Atlas spoke about Lewis after watching him dispose of heavyweight contender Chris Daukaus at last weekend’s UFC “Fight Night” card. The first-round finish put Lewis back into the win column after losing an interim title fight to Ciryl Gane in August.

    Atlas liked what he saw from Lewis but also mentioned one thing he thinks can elevate his striking even more: a solid jab.

    “One thing I would start with him [is] just give him a good reliable jab,” said Atlas on a recent episode of his podcast The Fight. “Just give him that phone-pole jab that George Foreman had that destroyed the late, great Joe Frazier […] Lewis can have something like that. That alone could improve him significantly.”

    Outside of the cage, Atlas was complimentary of the way Lewis presents himself. He mentioned his gift of gab has already amassed him a following and could carry him up to an even more popular spot someday.

    “Lewis is a smart guy. Forget about his power, that guy has a great personality. He can be a superstar […] He’s got a following already, it can get bigger,” said Atlas.

    Lewis is known for being a funny and laidback fighter. Along with his meme-heavy personality online, “The Black Beast” is witty on the mic during interviews. His most viral moment came after a fight against Alexander Volkov. After a brutal knockout win, Lewis took off the outer layer of his fighting shorts, stating, “My balls were hot.”

    Do you agree with Teddy Atlas? Would a jab change how Derrick Lewis fights for the better?

  • Watch: Lewis Sends A Message To Ex-Cop Daukaus After Traffic Stop

    Derrick Lewis had a direct message to his UFC Vegas 45 opponent Chris Daukaus after what he felt was a sketchy traffic stop.

    Heading into UFC Vegas 45, Derrick Lewis had one main goal. Sure, getting the dub, in general, is always essential. Breaking the UFC knockout record? Meh. The real primary objective for Lewis last weekend, in his own words, was to avoid getting Rodney King’d on national television by ex-police officer Chris Daukaus.

    “He’s gotta be a good guy because he is a police officer. I support the police department all over the world, ‘specially in Houston,” Lewis said. “I appreciate most of you all for letting me slide with speeding ticket here, and that’s why I appreciate you all, back the blue all day long. Whenever you fighting a police officer, you don’t wanna get Rodney King’d on ESPN, so you gotta go out there and fight hard, man. Do it for the people.”

    After Lewis was happy to legally assault the ex-cop in brutal fashion in a tribute to the ’90s police brutality victim King, he would very soon come in contact with the boys in blue again.

    Derrick Lewis Gets Pulled Over, Racks Up Another Dub

    As Lewis alluded to prior to the fight, Houston officers treat “The Black Beast” as a local hero, often being lenient with any traffic violations he may have committed.

    Such an incident was captured on video in Lewis’ Instagram Stories on Wednesday. When the traffic stop concluded, Lewis wanted Daukaus to know that he just pulled out another victory after implying that the ex-cop Daukaus had gone dirty. Peep it out below.

    In the video, Lewis is handed a warning by the officer for missing his front license plate. Lewis would brag about this resolution with his customary deadpan tone while addressing Daukaus.

    “Alright, Chris Daukaus. I’m still 2-0. He just gave me a warning. You tried it.”

    If Lewis’ suspicions are correct, he may want to quit while he’s ahead at 2-0 instead of poking the bear. Because regardless of your winning streak, if you keep Clashing with the law, the law always wins.

    What do you make of this second “victory” for Derrick Lewis?

  • Derrick Lewis Reveals Favorite KO After Record-Breaking Performance

    Derrick Lewis now holds the record for the ‘most knockouts in UFC history’ following his first-round KO victory over Chris Daukaus last weekend at UFC Vegas 45.

    Prior to the event, Lewis shared the record with Matt Brown and Vitor Belfort with 12 TKO/KO finishes.

    Lewis earned his 13th KO victory in the promotion last weekend, a streak that began back in 2014 at UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne, where he TKO’d Jack May in the first round. Lewis would also win his next five victories by KO/TKO before earning a split-decision victory over Roy Nelson.

    The knockouts would continue after his fight with Nelson, as Lewis would only have three fights go the distance in his next 14 bouts. Along the way, Lewis earned memorable KO victories over fighters such as Travis Browne, Alexander Volkov, Curtis Blaydes, among others.

    Derrick Lewis KO's Travis Browne, calls him out for beating women - video Dailymotion
    Derrick Lewis KOs Travis Browne

    At UFC Vegas 45, Derrick Lewis wasted no time in breaking the record. He finished Daukaus in under four minutes and left the fight almost unscathed, absorbing just 10 total strikes. Surprisingly enough, this was just Lewis’ fourth KO victory that came in the first round.

    After his victory, Lewis was asked in the post-fight press conference which of his 13 knockouts was his favorite (h/t MMA Fighting). Here’s how “The Black Beast” responded.

    “I like the [Alexander] Volkov knockout,” Lewis said. “That was pretty clutch because I was getting my cheeks clapped that whole fight, and it was good that I came in the last round — and it was a Russian guy, so it was an American going against a Russian, and I love all the Rocky movies. So basically that’s how Rocky used to fight, where he’d get whooped — damn near the whole fight he’d get whooped — then the music starts playing, then his wife starts screaming, then he’d get the knockout.”

    You can catch the full UFC Vegas 45 post-fight press conference below.

    Which was your favorite Derrick Lewis KO?

  • Lewis Takes Pleasure In Legally Assaulting Ex-Police Officer Daukaus

    UFC heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis took pleasure in getting the opportunity to legally knock out a former police officer inside the Octagon.

    Lewis put on arguably the best performance of his 2021 run in knocking out Chris Daukaus in the UFC Vegas 45 main event. Lewis looked patient on the feet before eventually overwhelming Daukaus with a barrage of right hooks to secure the finish.

    Leading up to the fight, Lewis had spoken about how he wanted to avoid getting Rodney King’d by Daukaus. King is well known as a victim of police brutality in the 1990s. During his post-fight press conference, Lewis spoke about his performance and what it was like to assault a former police officer without penalty.

    “That was for Rodney King,” Lewis said. “I’m fighting a police officer, man. Come on, man. That’s the only time you get a chance to punch a police officer in the mouth and get away with it, and then he gets up and shakes your head? Sh*t, that was a great feeling, man.”

    With the knockout over Daukaus, Lewis passed Vitor Belfort and Matt Brown to claim the top spot on the UFC’s all-time knockout list with 13 finishes. Earlier this year, he had knocked out Curtis Blaydes in a Knockout of the Year candidate.

    What stands out about Lewis isn’t just the performances he puts in the Octagon, but also his microphone work before and after events. As Lewis looks ahead to possible title contention in 2022, his following is more than likely to grow with each additional comedic gesture.

    What do you think should be next for Derrick Lewis?

  • Fighters React To Derrick Lewis Finishing Chris Daukaus At UFC Vegas 45

    Derrick Lewis vs. Chris Daukaus was a quick fight. 

    The two fighters met in a bout on Saturday night (December 18, 2021) at the UFC Vegas 45 event from Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC Apex facility.

    This one didn’t last long. Lewis was in complete control as he landed some combos before they clinched. After they separated, Lewis hurt him with right hooks before unleashing with more strikes and Daukaus dropped. 

    Peep the highlights of the fight courtesy of the UFC’s official Twitter account:

    Lewis was coming off a loss to Ciryl Gane by TKO in an interim heavyweight title fight at the UFC 265 PPV event. Before that, Lewis got a TKO win over Aleksei Oleinik in August 2020, beat Ilir Latifi by decision at the UFC 247 pay-per-view event on February 8, 2020, and then beat Curtis Blaydes by TKO at UFC Vegas 19. Before that, Lewis beat Blagoy Ivanov at the UFC 244 pay-per-view event from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York prior to him losing by second-round TKO to former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos in the headliner of UFC on ESPN + 4 on March 9, 2019 from Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas. 

    Daukaus entered this fight with a 5-fight winning streak and a 12-3 pro-MMA record. Victories in his past five fights were over the likes of Danny Holmes, Parker Porter, Rodrigo Nascimento, Aleksei Oleinik, and Shamil Abdurakhimov. All of those fights ended in TKO/KO. 

    Let’s see how the fighters reacted to the outcome of this fight: 

    https://twitter.com/Actionman513/status/1472394747113136128

    UFC Vegas 45 Results & Highlights: Derrick Lewis vs. Chris Daukaus, Stephen Thompson vs. Belal Muhammad

    MMA News has you covered with results, highlights, and post-fight tidbits from UFC Vegas 45. Be sure to keep checking the homepage for the latest news.

  • Archives: Derrick Lewis Pummels Boxer In Gym For Trash Talking (2019)

    Two years before Derrick Lewis’ attempt to pummel Chris Daukaus tonight at UFC Vegas 45, he did just that to some poor chap who mouthed off to The Black Beast.

    The following article is presented in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 19, 2019, 8:07 PM]

    Headline: Derrick Lewis Pummels Boxer In Gym For Alleged Trash Talk (Video)

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    If you’re going to talk trash inside a gym, it would be wise to avoid doing so in front of Derrick Lewis.

    “The Black Beast” is known for his knockout power and he’s put that on display numerous times inside the Octagon. It isn’t unusual for knockouts to occur during sparring sessions between teammates. What is a little more rare is when an outsider talks trash and gets his or her comeuppance, although we have seen it before.

    Derrick Lewis Wrecks Boxer, Claims Trash Talk Sparked Incident

    Lewis posted footage on Twitter of a quick spar with a man who he claims to be a boxer who disrespected him for being an MMA fighter.

    “When a boxers said he will knock me out because I’m a mma fighter.”

    ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reached out to Lewis for some details on the gym incident and here’s what he was told.

    “Asked Derrick about this. He said a boxer at his gym was talking ‘a lot’ of smack about boxers vs MMA fighters. This happened yesterday. Lasted 1 minute, he said.”

    If anything, the incident may have given Lewis a chuckle as he prepares for Ilir Latifi on Feb. 8. Lewis vs. Latifi will be held on the UFC 247 card in Houston, Texas. “The Black Beast” resides in Cypress, Texas so he is sure to have fans inside the Toyota Center on his side.

  • Archives: Derrick Lewis’ Hand Possibly Broken, Sex Ban Repealed (2018)

    Just as you never know what to expect with UFC Vegas 45 headliner Derrick Lewis today, the same applied three years ago and has always applied. The following is a bittersweet story about “The Black Beast” published three years ago.

    Be sure to watch Lewis compete tonight at UFC Vegas 45 against Chris Daukaus, where hopefully he’d be able to have a proper celebration, which wasn’t the case in the following the article.

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 20, 2018, 5:00 PM]

    Headline: Derrick Lewis’ Hand Possibly Broken, Wife Sex Ban Repealed

    Author: Ian Carey

    It’s been an up-and-down last few days for Derrick Lewis. While he scored an impressive 3rd round knockout in Austin Saturday night, he may have broken his hand in the process. Even worse, though, he is reportedly too banged up to keep good on promises he made during his now famous post-fight interview from the weekend.

    Lewis had informed media recently that his wife, April, had hit him with a sex ban following comments the heavyweight made regarding Ronda Rousey in a previous post-fight speech. He expressed his desire to win on Saturday so he could buy her something nice and hopefully end the ban.

    Well, he won his fight and the ban has been lifted but he’s a little too banged up to make good on his post-fight promises.

    Derick Lewis is Too Banged Up

    April informed TMZ reporters recently that Lewis is a little too banged up at the moment to celebrate the end of her ban.

    “The ban is over. I’ve been trying to get him all day, but he’s tired,” April told reporters.

    “I don’t got it in me, man — I’m hurtin’ … I can’t put in a half-assed performance, lay there like a starfish,” Derrick chimed in.

    Derrick Lewis’ Broken Hand

    Lewis might not only be on the injured list regarding his marital obligations, however. If his hand is broken as he believes it to be, Lewis will be out 6-8 weeks.

    “I haven’t got X-rays on it or anything yet, but I just feel like it’s broken,” Lewis said. “I’m waiting on the UFC right now. They’re supposed to give me a doctor close by to see and get X-rays and hopefully get a cast,” he continued.

    Lewis also explained why he’s hoping to get his hand dealt with as soon as possible.  “Hopefully before this weekend because I want to go to the rodeo for the cook-off. Before they start the rodeo, I’m going to be a guest judge; a celebrity guest judge for all the food and stuff.”

  • UFC Vegas 45: Lewis vs. Daukaus Weigh-In Results & In-Depth Preview

    The weigh-in results for UFC Vegas 45: Lewis vs. Daukaus are in, and we’ve got the results along with a preview for tomorrow night’s event for you below.

    The weigh-ins are complete for UFC Vegas 45, and three fighters have missed weight. In Justin Tafa’s case, he made history by becoming the first heavyweight to ever miss weight. Greg Hardy initially missed weight at UFC Vegas 12 last year, but he was able to successfuly make weight on his second attempt. Tafa, however, did not return to the scales after weighing in at 267 pounds, which is one pound over the heavyweight limit.

    Macy Chiasson also missed weight for her featherweight bout against Raquel Pennington, coming in at 148.5 pounds, 2.5 pounds over the limit. Meanwhile, Sijara Eubanks’ struggles on the scale continue, with the flyweight weighing in 1.5 pounds over the flyweight limit ahead of her bout against Melissa Gatto.

    UFC Vegas 45 takes place from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The entire card will stream on ESPN+, with the prelims starting at 4:00 PM ET and the main card beginning at 7:00 PM ET.

    UFC Vegas 45 Preview & Faceoffs

    The final card of 2021 goes down tomorrow night in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the main event, top-10 heavyweights Derrick Lewis (#3) and Chris Daukaus (#7) will slug it out. When these two big boys exchange fire, former police officer Daukaus will do so cautiously because of the power he knows Lewis possesses.

    All the while, Lewis will be swangin’ and bangin’ and doing everything he can to avoid being MMA’s answer to Rodney King. Should he be successful, he’d like to move on to the next challenge, two-time UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.

    In his previous bout at UFC 265 against Ciryl Gane, Lewis admits that the pressure of vying for a UFC title in his hometown got to him. Tomorrow night, there will be a sparse and relatively quiet Apex crowd ready to behold another Black Beast explosion. Should Lewis earn another knockout tomorrow at Daukaus’ expense, he will stand alone as the UFC knockout record-holder.

    Check out the face-off between these two heavyweights below.

    In the co-main event, top-10 welterweights Stephen Thompson (#5) and Belal Muhammad (#10) will do battle. When Thompson first learned that this fight was booked, the UFC veteran was absolutely elated. He expects a fun, honest scrap between himself and Muhammad, unlike the way he feels his fight with Gilbert Burns went at UFC 264.

    Should Thompson come out on the losing end, Muhammad believes that should earn him the same opportunity that Thompson has had on two separate occasions: fighting for the world title. If not, a bout with the highly touted Khamzat Chimaev would also suffice for the Chicagoan.

    Here is the final face-off between these two ranked welterweights.

    Here are the other face-offs for tomorrow night’s main card bouts!

    Amanda Lemos vs. Angela Hill

    Raphael Assuncao vs. Ricky Simon

    Diego Ferreira vs. Mateusz Gamrot

    Cub Swanson vs. Darren Elkins

    This is a battle between two hardened UFC veterans. Cub Swanson recently revealed that there are some people in his inner circle that believe he should stop fighting. However, he hopes that big performances like the one he expects to turn in tomorrow will show them that he still has plenty left to offer the sport. Check out the face-off between these to battle-tested featherweights below.

    UFC Vegas 45 Weigh-In Results

    Below, you can find the full lineup for UFC Vegas 45 as well as the weigh-in results, courtesy of UFC.com.

    Main Card

    Main Event – Heavyweight Bout: Derrick Lewis (265) vs Chris Daukaus (235.5)

    Co-Main Event – Welterweight Bout: Stephen Thompson (170.5) vs Belal Muhammad (170.5)

    Women’s Strawweight Bout: Amanda Lemos (115) vs Angela Hill (115.5)

    Bantamweight Bout: Raphael Assuncao (136) vs Ricky Simon (135.5)

    Lightweight Bout: Diego Ferreira (156) vs Mateusz Gamrot (155.5)

    Featherweight Bout: Cub Swanson (145.5) vs Darren Elkins (145.5)

    PRELIMS

    Middleweight Bout: Dustin Stoltzfus (185.5) vs Gerald Meerschaert (185.5)

    Bantamweight Bout: Raoni Barcelos (135.5) vs Victory Henry (136)

    Heavyweight Bout: Justin Tafa (267)* vs Harry Hunsucker (238.5)

    Women’s Flyweight Bout: Sijara Eubanks (127.5)** vs Melissa Gatto (125)

    Featherweight Bout: Charles Jourdain (145.5) vs Andre Ewell (145)

    Women’s Featherweight Bout: Raquel Pennington (145) vs Macy Chiasson (148.5)***

    Heavyweight Bout: Don’Tale Mayes (256.5) vs Josh Parisian (262)

    Lightweight Bout: Jordan Leavitt (155.5) vs Matt Sayles (155.5)

    MMA News will have you covered with all the UFC Vegas 45 results and highlights tomorrow night!

  • Derrick Lewis Doesn’t Want To Get “Rodney King’d” On ESPN

    It’s not a “Black Beast” fight week without some memorable quotes. 

    Derrick Lewis is known for his quick wit and vicious knockout power. Put a microphone in front of him, and the Houston native shines. So it’s no surprise that ahead of his main event bout with Chris Daukaus, a former police officer, that Lewis brought up his opponent’s past occupation at the press conference(h/t Sportskeeda). 

    “He’s gotta be a good guy because he is a police officer. I support the police department all over the world, specially in Houston. I appreciate most of you all for letting me slide with speeding ticket here, and that’s why I appreciate you all, back the blue all day long. Whenever you fighting a police officer, you don’t wanna get Rodney King’d on ESPN, so you gotta go out there and fight hard, man. Do it for the people.”

    Derrick Lewis
    Derrick Lewis (Photo: Instagram @UFC)

    For those who may not be in the know, Rodney King is a black man who was excessively beaten by police officers after a traffic chase in 1991. The four officers accused of excessive force were freed without punishment, causing the city of Los Angeles to erupt in riots and chaos.

    Lewis and Daukaus will meet in the main event of UFC Vegas 45 this Saturday. Daukaus will be looking to make it five straight wins since joining the UFC in 2020. His last outing saw him TKO Shamil Abdurakhimov at UFC 266. 

    The bout will be Lewis’ first return to the Octagon since failing to capture interim gold against Cyril Gane at UFC 265 in August.

    Who wins between Chris Daukaus and Derrick Lewis this weekend?