Derrick Lewis is back– and he understands his area in the existing UFC heavyweight department.
The fan-favorite Lewis hasn’t battled considering that considering that making a third-round ko of Rodrigo Nascimento in May 2024, nevertheless “The Black Beast” go back to activity on July 12 when he enters his 13th job UFC centerpiece, headlining UFC Nashville contraryTallison Teixeira An effective evening for Lewis would certainly place him on his initial win touch considering that 2021.
Advertisement
Currently seatedNo 9 in the UFC heavyweight positions, Lewis stated Tuesday on Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Show” that he’s material taking his time defeating loved one advertising newbies like Teixeira.
“I ain’t trying to get no title shot, hell nah,” Lewis stated. “I want to just continue fighting taxi cab drivers right now. Then we can start talking about title shots.
“We’ll see just how energetic they attempt to maintain me.”
Lewis, 40, was expected to fight sooner, as he was previously scheduled to face Alexander Romanov this past November. Shortly after the bout was made official, UFC changed Lewis’ opponent to Jhonata Diniz, but then that fight fell through when Lewis suffered a non-weight-related medical issue on weigh-in day.
Advertisement
When discussing the withdrawal, Lewis joked about severe cramps as his reason for not fighting. After months of ” asking,” Lewis is simply glad to get back in the Octagon and didn’t care who it came against.
” A great deal of individuals really did not intend to deal with, and the individuals that did, they currently had actually battles reserved. It’s various other things that lags it. It’s national politics. It’s additionally scripted,” Lewis said, joking. “It’s component of the manuscript. You recognize, the entire UFC is scripted. It’s component of the strategy. On July 12, they desire me to win, first-round ko, so it belongs to the manuscript. Whoever wan na make that wager, go on and make that wager.
“It didn’t matter who [was next],” Lewis proceeded. “The Dominican dude that say he’s not Black, he’s Dominican, he called me out (Waldo Cortes-Acosta). I would want to fight him. That would have been good to fight him in March, whenever they were looking for a main event then. I wanted to fight him then. I’ve been training for four months straight.”
When Lewis damaged the UFC’s all-time document for a lot of knockout success (14) versus Marcos Rogerio de Lima in 2023, he had actually completed his UFC agreement. His following– albeit quick– complimentary company duration led Lewis to captivate the concept of a rematch versus his old enemy, Francis Ngannou, in the PFL. But inevitably the UFC’s deal was much better, and secured Lewis in for 8 even more battles at the time of finalizing. He currently has 6 left.
Advertisement
Lewis has actually tested for UFC gold on 2 celebrations, shedding by means of rear-naked choke to Daniel Cormier in 2018 and after that shedding to Ciryl Gane in 2021 for the acting title. The Texan never ever anticipated he would certainly be combating right into his 40s, yet with this existing trajectory, he can see his job prolonging for an additional years.
“I can continue fighting these taxi-cab fighters, these newcomers coming in who want to get their name,” Lewis stated. “I like fighting guys like that right now. Keep ’em coming.
“Once they strike me keeping that agreement, I stated,’S ***, I can deal with till I’m 50. Let’s go. Let’s do it.'”
Assuming Lewis does stick around for years to come, you’d think another eventual title shot would enter his mind if he finds success. With all the turmoil atop the division between the champions Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, however, Lewis couldn’t be any less concerned with finding his way into the mix.
” I apathetic what they started on,” Lewis said of the UFC heavyweight title picture. ” S ***, I’m hardly in the leading 10. I’m means down there. I’m no one now. So I’m not fretted about them. If that’s what they intend to do, allow them do that.”
