Derrick Lewis

UFC books Derrick Lewis – Tai Tuivasa

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The UFC has finalized a huge matchup in their heavyweight division featuring two of the biggest knockout artists in the promotion. MMA Junkie was the first to report this afternoon that “The Black Beast” Derrick Lewis (26-8, 1 NC) will be taking on Tai “Bam Bam” Tuivasa (14-3) next.

The matchup will take place in Lewis’ hometown of Houston, Texas at UFC 271 on February 12th. This is a huge opportunity for Tuivasa to make the jump towards the very top of the heavyweight division. The last time we saw Bam Bam was back at UFC 269 when he took on Augusto Sakai.

Tuivasa was able to secure the knockout win which he followed with his signature shoey. The win was Tuivasa’s fourth straight win and all four of those wins have come via knockout. Three of the four wins came in the first round.

After starting out his career unbeaten, Tuivasa went through a UFC rough patch in 2018/2019. He lost three straight and looked like he was going to get cut from the promotion. However, he started taking things more seriously and the results have been incredible. Now, he’s a win away from being in UFC title contention.

UFC Houston return for The Black Beast

Last month, Derrick Lewis made a massive statement when he returned to the UFC’s APEX. Lewis was coming off of a heartbreaking loss against Ciryl Gane where he came up short in Houston at UFC 265. The loss to Gane snapped a four-fight winning streak.

He was so gun-shy and tentative in the Gane fight that many were picking against him when he fought Chris Daukaus. In fact, Daukaus was the betting favorite. However, Lewis shut everyone up when he stormed Daukaus and knocked him out in the first round.

Now, the UFC’s knockout king is ready to make another run at the title. That run features another stop in his hometown against Tai Tuivasa. I don’t know who is going to win this fight, but I do think someone is going out. This should be a matchup that you don’t want to turn away from.

After big knockout win at UFC Vegas 45, what’s next for Derrick Lewis?

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This past Saturday at UFC Vegas 45, we saw a heavyweight showdown in the main event. Two of the biggest knockout artists in the division went head-to-head as two-time title challenger Derrick Lewis (26-8, 1 NC) took on Chris Daukaus (12-4).

Entering the bout, Daukaus was actually the betting favorite. This was a surprise to many in the industry given the fact that Lewis was a two-time title challenger while Daukaus hasn’t fought anyone in the top ten at heavyweight.

That said, Lewis’ last performance gave a lot of people pause. Lewis fought Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC 265. The Black Beast never really got going and was ultimately stopped in the third round.

That performance frustrated Lewis and he vowed to be better at UFC Vegas 45. Well, you could tell from the opening bell that this was a very different Derrick Lewis on Saturday night.

Daukaus was doing what he needed to do in the first which was circle the outside. Lewis was plotting forward just biting his time until he was ready to attack.

Well, just over three minutes into the first round, Lewis was ready. The Black Beast rushed forward and swarmed Daukaus against the fence. Lewis was throwing serious heat and Daukaus just tried to survive.

However, the power proved to be too much. The UFC’s heavyweight knockout king was able to land some clean shots during the barrage and put Daukaus out cold. He made a massive statement with that win on Saturday night.

What’s next after UFC Vegas 45?

Derrick Lewis made a massive statement on Saturday night. The way he fought showed everyone that his performance at UFC 265 might’ve just been the nerves of trying to become champion in his hometown. The Derrick Lewis we saw on Saturday night is one that can knock out any man on the roster.

So, after that big win, who should be next for The Black Beast? To me, there’s really only one answer to this question. I think the next man that Lewis should fight is former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic (20-4) in a title eliminator.

Next month, Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane will fight for the heavyweight title. While the UFC hasn’t come out and said it, the general consensus is that Jon Jones will likely be the next in line to challenge for the title. Stipe Miocic is going to be the odd man out again.

With that, Miocic and Lewis would be a helluva fight that could determine who will get another crack at UFC gold.

Derrick Lewis knocks Chris Daukaus out at UFC Vegas 45

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In the main event of UFC Vegas 45, we saw a big time showdown in the heavyweight division. Former two-time title challenger Derrick Lewis (25-8, 1 NC) returned as he took on the surging Chris Daukaus (12-3).

This was a massive step up in competition for Daukaus who was getting his first taste of a UFC main event. The last time we saw Daukaus was back in September when he took on Shamil Abdurakhimov.

Daukaus scored a second round knockout. That win moved him to 4-0 in the UFC and all four of those wins have come via knockout. Now, he was tasked with taking on the greatest knockout artist in heavyweight history.

The record holder for the most knockouts in UFC history is ‘The Black Beast’. Derrick Lewis has ungodly one-punch knockout power and that power has made him a star with the promotion.

Well, that power and his personality. The last time we saw Lewis was at UFC 265 when he had a shot at the interim heavyweight champion against Ciryl Gane. He came up short that night, but he was hoping to turn things around at UFC Vegas 45.

UFC Vegas 45 Recap

Round 1

The UFC Vegas 45 main event kicked off with a touch of the gloves. Lewis holds the center as Daukaus circles on the outside. Both men just trying to feel the other out here in the opening seconds. Lots of feints from Daukaus as Lewis is just stalking him here.

Daukaus throws his first combination but was a bit out of range. Nice leg kick from Daukaus. Lewis just plotting forward here. Leg kick from Daukaus and Lewis explodes forward with a right hand that just misses but Daukaus felt that power.

Heavy leg kick from Lewis then both men exchange big shots. Now it’s Daukaus moving forward. High kick attempt from Lewis and now he’s coming forward. Beautiful leg kick lands from Daukaus and he lands another on The Black Beast.

Here comes Lewis. Massive power shots in the clinch and Daukaus is covering up but Lewis is all over him. Daukaus is fighting back but Lewis is giving him no room to breathe. Crippling shot from Lewis and Daukaus is out cold. Another huge knockout win for The Black Beast.

Derrick Lewis def. Chris Daukaus by KO – Round 1

UFC Vegas 45 Preview: Derrick Lewis – Chris Daukaus

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Tomorrow night in the main event of UFC Vegas 45, we will see a big time showdown in the heavyweight division. Former two-time title challenger Derrick Lewis (25-8) returns as he takes on the surging Chris Daukaus (12-3).

This is a massive step up in competition for Daukaus who is getting his first taste of a UFC main event. The last time we saw Daukaus was back in September when he took on Shamil Abdurakhimov.

Daukaus scored a second round knockout. That win moved him to 4-0 in the UFC and all four of those wins have come via knockout. Now, he’s taking on the greatest knockout artist in heavyweight history.

The record holder for the most knockouts in UFC history is ‘The Black Beast’. Derrick Lewis has ungodly one-punch knockout power and that power has made him a star with the promotion.

Well, that power and his personality. The last time we saw Lewis was at UFC 265 when he had a shot at the interim heavyweight champion against Ciryl Gane. He came up short that night, but he’s hoping to turn things around at UFC Vegas 45.

UFC Vegas 45 Prediction

If you want someone who can give Derrick Lewis problems, you want someone who is really fast and slick on the feet. Someone like a Ciryl Gane who was able to really expose Lewis when they fought.

Chris Daukaus possesses a lot of those qualities which will make him a challenge for Lewis at UFC Vegas 45. Daukaus is very quick on the feet and he does a great job of throwing combinations.

Not too mention he’s also very good on the ground, we just haven’t seen that part of his game. Daukaus is more technical and slick on the feet. That said, Derrick Lewis can win any fight he’s in due to his power alone.

It doesn’t matter how good Daukaus looks, Lewis can turn the lights off with one shot and we’ve seen Daukaus finished before. That power has really made the UFC Vegas 45 main event so intriguing.

I really like Daukaus as a prospect for the heavyweight division. However, I don’t think I can pick against Lewis here. The odds of him landing one bomb are decent and I’m not sure Daukaus will be standing after it lands.

Prediction: Derrick Lewis by KO – Round 2

UFC close to booking Derrick Lewis – Chris Daukaus

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The Black Beast is ready to make his return to the UFC. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was the first to report this evening that the UFC is close to finalizing a matchup between Derrick Lewis (25-8, 1 NC) and Chris Daukaus (12-3).

The fight would take place and likely headline a UFC Fight Night on December 18th. Dana White broke the news to Okamoto that the promotion was planning this matchup between these two knockout artists.

This is a massive step up in competition for Chris Daukaus who has been on a roll in the UFC. Daukaus got his first shot on the big show last August when he took on Parker Porter.

He made a splash by getting a first round knockout, however, he wasn’t done there. After that matchup, Daukaus would fight three more times including last Saturday at UFC 266.

All three of those fights ended the same way the first one did and that’s with Daukaus securing a knockout. Daukaus has been splitting his time between the UFC and his job as a police officer. However, he’s decided to take a leave from the force to focus on his fighting career.

Black Beast’s UFC Return

One of the more charismatic and loveable heavyweights on the roster will be back in December. Derrick Lewis has been itching to get back in the cage after he fell completely flat in his last performance.

At UFC 265, Lewis got a dream opportunity. He got to fight for the interim heavyweight title in his hometown of Houston, Texas. Lewis was never able to get anything going in that interim title fight with Ciryl Gane and ultimately got stopped.

That loss snapped a four-fight win streak for Lewis which included a devastating knockout over Curtis Blaydes earlier this year. Lewis holds the record for the most knockouts in the UFC and it’s easy to see why.

When he lands on you, you’re likely going to sleep. The problem was that Ciryl Gane was just a little too quick for him. Perhaps Chris Daukaus will be as well or perhaps we will be in for another Black Beast celebration on December 18th.

Stipe Miocic to meet with UFC next month regarding his return

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MMA, Stipe Miocic

The greatest heavyweight in the history of the UFC is getting ready to ramp up the comeback conversations. Stipe Miocic (20-4) has been motivated to get back in the cage ever since he lost the heavyweight title back in March.

Miocic defended his title against Francis Ngannou (16-3) at UFC 260. This was a rematch from a couple of years ago. In the first fight, Miocic completely dominated and overwhelmed Ngannou in a lopsided decision.

The second fight was completely different. Ngannou was calculated and remained calmed throughout on his way to knocking Miocic out in the second round to become the UFC heavyweight champion.

After the loss, Miocic has stated that he wants the trilogy with Ngannou to regain his heavyweight title. However, the UFC had no plans for that right away. Miocic needed time to recover and with a baby on the way, he decided to sit back for a while.

In the mean time, there has been a ton of activity in the heavyweight division. Despite the title being on the line just a few months ago, the UFC created an interim title that Derrick Lewis (25-8, 1 NC) and Ciryl Gane (10-0) just fought for at UFC 265.

Miocic to meet with the UFC

Gane stopped Lewis in the third round to become the interim UFC heavyweight champion. With the interim title around his waste, Gane will be taking on the undisputed champion, Francis Ngannou, likely at the end of the year or in early 2022.

So where does that leave the greatest heavyweight in UFC history? Well, Miocic is in a bit of a waiting pattern. He told ESPN this week that his wife is due with their son in the next couple of weeks. After the baby is born, Miocic is flying to Las Vegas to meet with Dana White regarding what’s next.

Miocic did mention that he was a little annoyed he didn’t get a call for the interim title fight. That was never in the UFC’s plans. White has publicly mentioned a fight with Jon Jones (26-1, 1 NC) as an option for Miocic. Miocic told ESPN he would be down for that fight, but Jones has been less interested in this matchup in the past.

I have to say, with Ngannou – Gane happening, I would love for the UFC to book Miocic against Jones. The greatest of all time versus the greatest heavyweight has a nice ring to it. Not too mention the fact that it would provide a clear number one contender for the winner of Ngannou – Gane.

How does Francis Ngannou fare against Ciryl Gane after UFC 265?

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Francis Ngannou

This past Saturday at UFC 265, the interim heavyweight title was on the line. The undefeated Ciryl Gane (10-0) was taking on heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis (25-8, 1 NC) in Lewis’ hometown of Houston, Texas.

An extremely interested observer on Saturday night was the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou (16-3). Ngannou just won the title back in March when he knocked out Stipe Miocic.

After the win, he took some time to visit Africa and didn’t arrive back in the US to start training until June. The UFC wanted Ngannou to turn right around and face Lewis in Houston to headline UFC 265.

Ngannou said he would fight in September, but turned down the August fight because he would only have six weeks to train. As a result, the UFC made an interim title and put Ciryl Gane in there with Derrick Lewis.

Gane is a former teammate of Francis Ngannou. The Frenchman completely dominated Lewis on Saturday night to become the interim UFC champion. Ngannou had a simple message for Gane after the fight, “See you soon boy”

How does the UFC champ fare against the interim champ?

Ciryl Gane is a nightmare for most heavyweights in the UFC. Gane has a complete skillset and brings a level of athleticism that’s very rare for the heavyweight division. He’s incredibly long and he’s light on his feet like someone in the middleweight division.

The UFC commentators talked about the fact that he will be a problem for Francis Ngannou. That said, I believe that Francis Ngannou is the only guy who can bring all this Ciryl Gane talk to a screeching halt.

While Derrick Lewis holds a win over Francis Ngannou, the two are not on the same level. Ngannou is very fast, extremely strong, and he’s very long. In fact, his reach is a couple of inches longer than Ciryl Gane’s.

The champion has the ability to close the distance fast enough and he’s long enough to land the power shots that Lewis simply couldn’t. Nobody should take the UFC 265 fight between Lewis and Gane and apply it to breaking down the fight with Ngannou.

Ciryl Gane just might have the perfect style to stifle the champion. However, if there’s anyone in the division who can catch Gane and put him to sleep, it’s Francis Ngannou. Going into their fight, I believe that Ngannou should still be the favorite, and I personally would still bet on the UFC heavyweight champ.

What’s next for Derrick Lewis after coming up short at UFC 265?

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This past Saturday at UFC 265 in the main event, the interim heavyweight title was on the line. Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis (25-8, 1 NC) was fighting in his hometown as he was taking on the undefeated Ciryl Gane (10-0).

The winner of the interim title would earn a shot at the undisputed UFC champion Francis Ngannou (16-3). Going into UFC 265, the game plan was pretty obvious for both men.

For Derrick Lewis, it was going to be about finding that one shot that would put Gane out. Lewis has ungodly power in his hands and he’s proven that he just needs to hit you one good time for the show to be over.

For Ciryl Gane, it was going to be about being elusive and striking from the outside. Well, one of those game plans was executed perfectly. The fighter who executed perfectly at UFC 265 was Ciryl Gane.

Gane kept Lewis on the outside all night long. Lewis never really got close to landing anything significant and it was domination from Gane. Gane ended up stopping Lewis in the third round.

What’s next after UFC 265?

This is a tough one to swallow for Lewis who was fighting for the UFC title in his hometown. All week long, Lewis talked about how much pressure was on his shoulders to perform in front of his friends, his family, and his city.

To be completely honest, I think the moment got to Lewis a bit. Combine that with the sheer brilliance of Ciryl Gane and you had the perfect recipe for disaster for The Black Beast at UFC 265.

From here, where does Lewis go? Well, for anyone who’s quick to write of Lewis, I’ll remind you that he’s still one of the very best heavyweights in the UFC. Remember, he did just knock out Curtis Blaydes a few months ago.

There’s two opponents that I’m looking at for Derrick Lewis next. The first one is Stipe Miocic (20-4). Let’s be honest, Miocic wants and likely deserves an immediate rematch for the UFC heavyweight title. However, we know the promotion isn’t doing that.

If Miocic wants to be active, he should take a fight with Lewis. It would be a massive fight for both men and for fans. The other opponent I’m thinking about is Alexander Volkov (33-9).

Volkov and Lewis fought before at UFC 229 and Volkov dominated most of the fight before a last second Lewis knockout. If Volkov wins his fight against Marcin Tybura, I’m sure fans would love to see that rematch for The Black Beast.

Ciryl Gane dominates and finishes Derrick Lewis at UFC 265

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Ciryl Gane UFC

In the headliner of UFC 265 we saw two top heavyweights battle it out for the interim heavyweight title. The hometown favorite Derrick Lewis (25-7, 1 NC) was taking on Ciryl Gane (9-0) in Houston.

The Black Beast entered the octagon as the second ranked heavyweight in the UFC. He’s on a four-fight win streak, but his last performance really put him over the top. Back in February, he knocked Curtis Blaydes out cold to earn this shot.

Standing across from Lewis is Ciryl Gane. Gane has a perfect record and he’s been dominant since joining the UFC. Gane made his debut with the promotion back in 2019 and he’s gone 6-0.

This year alone, Gane has had two headlining fights against Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Alexander Volkov. In both of those fights, Gane used his footwork and incredible striking technique to pickup two lopsided decision wins.

UFC 265 Recap

Round 1

The UFC 265 main event gets started with a touch of the gloves and here we go. Gane immediately on his toes as he takes the center of the cage. Lewis is sitting on the outside already looking to time a power shot.

Big head kick attempt from Lewis gets blocked by Gane. Gane pushing forward and Lewis has his back against the fence. Jab lands from Ciryl Gane. Three straight low kicks land for Gane.

Gane very light on his feet here in the first. Lewis starts plotting forward looking for his opening. However, Gane is remaining elusive here in the first. Nice jab lands for Gane. He follows it with a nice kick and another jab.

Low kick for Gane. Lewis trying to cut off Gane, but Gane lands a kick and gets out of the way. Another jab from Ciryl Gane. Lewis goes for a body kick and it lands low and we have a break in the action.

Lewis circles on the outside as we get back to the action. Gane light on his feet and Lewis tries to explode and land a bomb. However, Gane avoided the power. More shots from Gane land in the final seconds and the round comes to a close. 1-0 Ciryl Gane here at UFC 265.

Round 2

Entering the second here at UFC 265 and both guys still look fresh here. Gane bouncing again to start the second and he lands a couple of low kicks. Power jab lands for Ciryl Gane that backs up Derrick Lewis.

Big leg kick lands for Lewis, but he’s still not able to find any shots up top. Good 1-2 lands for Gane over the guard of Lewis. Lewis explodes forward, but again, can’t find the bomb that he’s looking for.

High kick from Lewis just misses. Low kick and jab lands for Gane. Gane tries for a jump knee and the two men end up in a clinch. Lewis gets pushed back to the fence by Gane and Gane starts landing knees to the thigh.

The crowd is becoming a little restless here and the two men separate. Another kick lands for Gane. Lewis tries for a big right hand, but he’s a too far out of range. Two good jabs land for Gane and he follows it up with a big right straight.

The two clinch briefly and Gane lands a vicious elbow on the break. Lewis tries to land a counter right hand, but he misses wildly. The second round comes to a close and it’s 2-0 Gane here at UFC 265.

Round 3

Entering the third round at UFC 265 and Lewis needs to get it going here. Lewis starts the striking with a body kick, but Gane immediately pushes him back with pressure. Gane lands two powerful leg kicks and he follows it with a big right hand.

Another huge kick from Gane finds it’s home and Lewis’ lead leg. Gane is completely chopping down Lewis’ lead leg here in the third round. Another kick lands and Lewis tries pushing forward, but Gane just shrugs him off.

We are halfway through this fight and it’s been completely one-sided. Lewis gets a body lock and tries for a takedown, but Gane defends well. Gane breaks and he lands a jab to the body. Lewis explodes and it looks like his leg buckles.

Gane hurts Derrick Lewis badly and he starts pouring it on. Lewis tries to blast back, but there’s nothing there. Gane is beating him up and Lewis goes down. Follow up shots are not answered and the referee calls a stop to the action. Domination by the new interim UFC heavyweight champion.

Ciryl Gane def. Derrick Lewis by TKO – Round 3

UFC 265 Preview: Derrick Lewis – Ciryl Gane

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Tomorrow night in the headliner of UFC 265 we will see two top heavyweights battle it out for the interim heavyweight title. The hometown favorite Derrick Lewis (25-7, 1 NC) takes on Ciryl Gane (9-0) in Houston.

The Black Beast enters tomorrow as the second ranked heavyweight in the UFC. He’s on a four-fight win streak, but his last performance really put him over the top. Back in February, he knocked Curtis Blaydes out cold to earn this shot.

Standing across from Lewis is Ciryl Gane. Gane has a perfect record and he’s been dominant since joining the UFC. Gane made his debut with the promotion back in 2019 and he’s gone 6-0.

This year alone, Gane has had two headlining fights against Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Alexander Volkov. In both of those fights, Gane used his footwork and incredible striking technique to pickup two lopsided decision wins.

Obviously tomorrow night is not for the undisputed heavyweight title. The UFC‘s heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou (16-3), is waiting in the wings for the winner of the UFC 265 headliner.

UFC 265 Prediction

When you look at the skillset of both men, the UFC 265 headliner looks like it would be easy to predict. When going skill for skill, Ciryl Gane is a much better fighter than Derrick Lewis.

You’re looking at someone in Gane who has incredible footwork, tremendous striking technique, solid skills on the ground, and cardio that lasts five rounds. Simply put, he’s the full package at heavyweight.

That said, Derrick Lewis possesses the great equalizer. Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou are the two hardest hitters in the UFC’s heavyweight division. You could argue that Lewis has the most power out of anyone in the division.

It takes one mistake with Lewis and you’re seeing stars. Curtis Blaydes was controlling their fight in February, but he got caught with an uppercut from hell in the second round and he was put out cold.

All it takes is for Ciryl Gane to make one mistake and he’s going out. However, I don’t think he’s going to make that mistake. I believe Gane is going to use a very smart game plan and I think he’ll be able to avoid the power. It might not be the most exciting at the end of the day, but I think Ciryl Gane walks away the interim UFC champion tomorrow night.

Prediction: Ciryl Gane by Unanimous Decision