UFC all-time knockout chief Derrick Lewis has a tall job (actually) in entrance of him for his reported Octagon return.
Derrick Lewis stays probably the most intimidating, damaging forces within the UFC after a plethora of untamed finishes contained in the Octagon. Whereas the UFC’s heavyweight division waits for readability on the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall combat negotiations, Lewis and some different contenders are ready within the wings for a shot on the belt.
Lewis has taken on a number of the hardest heavyweights in UFC historical past throughout his profession, together with Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov. Whereas Lewis has fallen in need of his UFC title aspirations, he stays one of many promotion’s largest fan favorites.
However whereas Lewis has confronted nearly each puzzle possible within the UFC’s heavyweight division, few are corresponding to what he’ll reportedly face subsequent.
Report: Derrick Lewis focused for UFC comeback on July twelfth
As reported by MMA journalist Laerte Viana, Lewis will face undefeated heavyweight Tallison Teixeira at a UFC Combat Night time focused for Nashville, TN on July twelfth. As of this writing, the UFC hasn’t confirmed nor denied the Lewis vs. Teixeira combat, in addition to the venue and placement for the July twelfth UFC Combat Night time occasion.
Teixeira will face a steep climb in competitors for his second UFC reserving. After incomes a contract by way of Dana White’s Contender Sequence final 12 months with a one-punch knockout, Teixeira knocked out Justin Tafa in simply 35 seconds at UFC 312 in February.
Standing at 6’7″, Teixeira holds a substantial peak benefit over the 6’3″ Lewis. However Lewis has fought in opposition to taller heavyweights all through his profession, though Teixeira presents a brand new, recent problem to the UFC heavyweight division.
As of this writing, Teixeira is listed because the tallest fighter on the UFC roster. The 25-year-old loved transient stints in LFA and SFT earlier than attracting the eye of the UFC brass.
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UFC Edmonton winner paid homage to Derrick Lewis after his last-second withdrawal
Lewis was supposed to face Jhonata Diniz at UFC Edmonton in November earlier than withdrawing simply hours earlier than the occasion resulting from an undisclosed sickness. Regardless of Lewis’s subtraction from the cardboard, that didn’t cease one UFC Edmonton combat winner from shouting out the heavyweight star.
After defeating Ariane da Silva, UFC flyweight Jasmine Jasudavicius echoed Lewis’s infamous ‘My balls was hot!’ catchphrase throughout her post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. Lewis made the notorious declaration after a come-from-behind KO win over Volkov at UFC 229.
Lewis hasn’t fought since knocking out Rodrigo Nascimento at UFC St. Louis final Might. Earlier than a loss to Jailton Almeida on brief discover, Lewis set the all-time UFC knockouts record by ending Marcos Rogerio de Lima at UFC 291 in simply 33 seconds.
The remainder of the UFC Nashville card is anticipated to be finalized and introduced within the coming weeks.
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