UFC knockout record holder Derrick Lewis is facing a literally tall challenge for his expected return to the Octagon.
Derrick Lewis remains a powerful and exciting force in the UFC, known for his knockout finishes. While the heavyweight division awaits news on the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall fight, Lewis and other contenders are ready for a title shot.
Throughout his UFC career, Lewis has fought many top heavyweights, including Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov. Despite not achieving his UFC title goals yet, he is a popular fan favorite.
Lewis has encountered almost every type of opponent in the heavyweight division, but his next reported opponent is quite unique.
Derrick Lewis Expected to Return at UFC Event on July 12th
According to MMA journalist Laerte Viana, Derrick Lewis is scheduled to fight against undefeated heavyweight Tallison Teixeira at a UFC Fight Night event planned for Nashville, TN, on July 12th. The UFC has not officially confirmed the Lewis vs. Teixeira fight, nor the location for the July 12th event.
This will be a significant step up in competition for Teixeira`s second UFC fight. After earning a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series with a knockout, Teixeira quickly knocked out Justin Tafa in 35 seconds at UFC 312 in February.
Teixeira, standing at 6’7″, has a significant height advantage over Lewis, who is 6’3″. Lewis has fought taller opponents before, but Teixeira presents a new and interesting challenge in the UFC heavyweight division.
Currently, Teixeira is listed as the tallest fighter in the UFC. The 25-year-old previously competed in LFA and SFT before joining the UFC.
UFC Edmonton Winner Referenced Derrick Lewis After His Withdrawal
Lewis was originally set to fight Jhonata Diniz at UFC Edmonton in November but withdrew shortly before the event due to illness. Despite Lewis`s absence, a UFC Edmonton winner still mentioned the heavyweight star.
After defeating Ariane da Silva, UFC flyweight Jasmine Jasudavicius quoted Lewis’s famous ‘My balls was hot!’ line in her post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. Lewis made this memorable statement after a comeback knockout victory over Volkov at UFC 229.
Lewis last fought in May, knocking out Rodrigo Nascimento at UFC St. Louis. Before a loss to Jailton Almeida, Lewis broke the UFC knockout record by finishing Marcos Rogerio de Lima in just 33 seconds at UFC 291.
The full UFC Nashville fight card is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Rupert Hartwell