Make no mistake, Derrick Lewis is a legitimate title contender. With his entertaining, power-punching style, Lewis has always been a fan-favorite in the UFC heavyweight division, but perhaps wasn’t universally considered a serious title threat due to issues over his cardio and wrestling.
Well, that was then, and times have changed.
Lewis’ cardio has leveled up markedly, while his ability to keep the fight standing has also improved significantly. Matched with someone many thought would be a nightmare booking for Lewis, Curtis Blaydes, the Houston native faced an acid test of his all-round abilities, and he passed with flying colors, courtesy of a crushing uppercut.
The bout represented a win-or-bust scenario for both men’s title ambitions in the UFC, and it was “The Black Beast” rose to the occasion as he scored a huge knockout to starch Blaydes and leave no doubt that he’s ready for a title shot.
The imminent arrival of Jon Jones as a UFC heavyweight may mean Lewis has to wait – and probably beat another contender – before he gets another shot at the gold. But he’s right in the mix again, and he’s never looked better.
Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-derrick-lewis-tom-aspinall-chris-daukaus-top-power-index-feb-15-21
