UFC: Derrick Lewis knocks Curtis Blaydes out cold to put himself in heavyweight title mix
- ‘The Black Beast’ gets 20th career knockout, tying Vitor Belfort for most KOs in UFC history (12)
- ‘I heard Jon Jones is coming up so it don’t make no sense for me to say I’m gonna fight for the title. so we’ll just see,’ says Lewis
Derrick Lewis inserted himself into the heavyweight title picture by knocking Curtis Blaydes out cold in the second round of the UFC Vegas 19 main event on Saturday night.
With Lewis’ power, one shot can always change everything and “The Black Beast” (25-7, one no contest) connected with a huge uppercut as No 2-ranked Blaydes (14-3, one no contest) shot in for a takedown.
“Razor” went stiff as a board as he fell to the Octagon canvas at the UFC Apex facility, and Lewis fired off a couple more punches before referee Herb Dean was able to step in at 1:26 of the second. American Blaydes, 30, was unconscious for several minutes before sitting up.
It was knockout No 20 in the career of the 36-year-old American, who now ties former UFC light heavyweight champ Vitor Belfort (26-14) of Brazil for most knockouts in the promotion’s history (12).
“I’m feeling all right. S***, I couldn’t wake up in the first round. I couldn’t really get it going, even in the warm-ups,” said No 4-ranked Lewis, who is riding a four-fight win streak.
“[The takedown] was the only point I was waiting for in the whole fight. I knew he was gonna come in, I knew the uppercut or the knee was gonna land. I didn’t care about the jab.”
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Lewis added he would prefer to face Stipe Miocic next – “I like the wrestlers” – but the heavyweight champ has a title defence against surging No 1 contender Francis Ngannou to deal with first at UFC 260 on March 27. UFC president Dana White has said former 205-pound champ Jon Jones will face the winner on his heavyweight debut.
“S***, it’s whatever, I don’t even care,” Lewis added. “I heard Jon Jones is coming up so it don’t make no sense for me to say I’m gonna fight for the title. so we’ll just see, ain’t no telling. But I’m pretty sure Izzy [Israel Adesanya] gonna come up, so we’ll see.”
Blaydes made it crystal clear before the fight he was going to use his wrestling and shoot for takedowns, but he had to be careful on the entries.
Lewis knew what was coming and planted his feet, waiting to counterstrike and sting him with uppercuts, landing a big one in the first 30 seconds of the fight.
A wild exchange later in the first round put Blaydes in control. He was throwing with more accuracy and frequency, and threw in some kicks to the left leg for good measure, but an accidental eye poke bought Lewis some time to recuperate.
Lewis defended a single leg attempt early in the second round, but Blaydes was playing with fire by standing up and exchanging, and Lewis knocked ended things with that uppercut as he shot in again.
