Derrick Lewis is the new heavyweight knockout king of UFC.
“The Black Beast” stopped Aleksei Oleinik via TKO at 21 seconds of the second round Saturday in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas. With the stoppage, Lewis earned his record 11th UFC Heavyweight KO / TKO, breaking a bond with former champions Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. That KO / TKO mark also puts Lewis in a tie for second with four others for the most knockouts in UFC history.
Lewis came out of the corner in the second with a wild flying knee that came to Oleinik’s chest. Lewis then quickly processed a winged right hand that came whispering to Oleinik’s mouth.
Oleinik fell, and Lewis kicked it up with hard sticks and hammerfists. Referee Herb Dean had no choice but to step in and call the bolt through technical knockout.
“It’s crazy. I still can not believe I have the most knockouts,” Lewis said at his postfight news conference. “It’s a crazy feeling because of all the big heavy weights for me. … Watch Brock Lesnar and Cain Velasquez, all those guys for all those years. Seeing that they did not do what I did, I just had to keep humble about it . “
The card took place for no fans at the UFC Apex, the facility on the other side of the UFC business campus, with COVID-19 protocols in place. Inside, Lewis came in at number 6 in the world on heavyweight by ESPN, and the attack had important implications for the top of the division.
Oleinik, a submission specialist, had a solid first round. After Lewis took him down – maybe maybe not – Oleinik was able to get into dominant position twice, trying on an old-school scarf. Oleinik wrapped his arms around Lewis’ head and arm from side control and pressure. Oleinik, however, could not quite cinch and proceeded to an Americana submission attempt on Lewis’ arm. Lewis was able to survive the round.
“He had that British bulldog, which is hell – that head subject on me,” Lewis said in his postfight interview. ‘He had it pretty deep. I could not breathe at all. So, s —. ‘
Despite Oleinik’s solid efforts, Lewis was awarded the first round by judges Chris Lee and Sal D’Amato, probably because he did more damage with his attacks. Judge Derek Cleary had the first for Oleinik.
Lewis said he will not take another fight until he can drop in the 245- to 250-pound range. Lewis typically falls directly within the 265-pound limit. He said he hopes to lose some weight and return in December.
“I’m not going to take any more fights at 260,” Lewis said.
Lewis (24-7, 1 NC) has won three straight and six of his past eight fights. The Houston resident lost to Daniel Cormier in a heavyweight title fight at UFC 230 in November 2018 at Madison Square Garden, but he has now worked his way back into the title picture. Lewis, 35, is now tied for third for most wins in UFC heavyweight history with dos Santos (15).
Oleinik (59-14-1) had drawn a winning streak of two fights. The Ukrainian native, who lives and trains in Florida, came out of a split-decided victory over former champion Fabricio Werdum at UFC 249 in May.
Oleinik, 43, is one of the top heavyweight grapplers in MMA history, with 46 submissions ending in his 59 career wins.
He is also one of the most experienced veterans in the game. Oleinik, who has been a pro for 24 years, became the first UFC fighter to fight in MMA – and win in MMA – in four different decades earlier this year.
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