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.”