Triple Take: Who should rightfully be next for a UFC heavyweight title shot?

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 08: (R-L) Derrick Lewis kicks Aleksei Oleinik of Russia in their heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on August 08, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Yeah, I know Jon Jones is going to get the next shot after Francis Ngannou. But the question above says “rightfully.” And before you jump me for disrespecting MMA’s all-time greatest pound-for-pound fighter, let me say I consider Jones just that. He’s the GOAT. I’m not a hater by any means.

With all of that said, I personally think a divisionally merit-based decision would also make business sense. When looking at the heavyweight division, no one competing there has done more to earn the next shot at the winner of UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and next-in-line challenger Francis Ngannou than “The Black Beast,” Derrick Lewis.

On Saturday, Lewis (25-7 MMA, 16-5) knocked out clear-cut should-be title challenger Curtis Blaydes inside two rounds. The victory extended his winning streak to four. Lewis once again solidified himself as a must-see-TV attraction.

Not only is Lewis entertaining inside the cage with his brutal knockout abilities and unorthodox grappling escapes, he’s right up there with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson as the funniest fighter in UFC history. Every time the man opens his mouth, something viral comes out. He’s phenomenal.

All of this strengthens the case for Lewis to be next. But you also can’t forget he also has a win over a man who could end up being the next UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou. If Miocic defeats Ngannou, Lewis would be a fresh matchup.

So why not give Jon Jones a test at heavyweight before he sniffs gold? A warm-up seems like a good move. This would let him get his footing under him. Make “Jon Jones’ heavyweight debut” an attraction regardless of the opponent. Let Lewis fight the winner of Miocic-Ngannou in the meantime.

Then, Jones can fight whichever of those three fighters walks away with the title in a highly-anticipated showdown, that had months of build-up.

Maybe the UFC wants the sure-thing: Jones fighting for heavyweight gold. But I’m a risk-taker. Without risk, you miss out on rewards. Gamble, UFC. Gamble!

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-opinion-analysis-who-should-be-next-heavyweight-title-shot-derrick-lewis-jon-jones-cyril-gane

 

MMA Junkie Power Index, Feb. 15-21: ‘The Black Beast’ moves into title contention

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

 

UFC Fight Night 185 reactions: Winning and losing fighters on social media

Since the early days when the sport was anything but a mainstream endeavor, the MMA industry has thrived and survived through various websites, forums, and – perhaps most importantly – social-media platforms.

Fighters interact with fans, each other and many more through the likes of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, which helps outsiders get a deeper look into the minds of the athletes.

Following Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 185 in Las Vegas, several of the winning and losing fighters, along with their coaches, training partners or family members, took to social media to react to the event or share a message with supporters.

Check out some of those reactions.

The defeated: Jared Vanderaa

A post shared by Jared Vanderaa (@jaredvanderaa)

The defeated: Drako Rodriguez

The defeated: Nate Landwehr

A post shared by natethetrain (@natethetrain)

The defeated: Eddie Wineland

A post shared by Eddie Wineland (@eddiewineland)

The defeated: Andrei Arlovski

A post shared by Andrei Arlovski (@andreiarlovski)

The defeated: Nassourdine Imavov

A post shared by Imavov Nassourdine (@imavov_nassourdine)

The defeated: Ketlen Vieira

A post shared by Ketlen “Fenomeno” Vieira – UFC (@ketlenvieiraufc)

The defeated: Curtis Blaydes

A post shared by Austin Hubbard (@austinhubb155)

The victorious: Serghei Spivac

A post shared by 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐘 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐊 (@polar_bear_ft_official)

The victorious: Aiemann Zahabi

A post shared by Casey O’neill UFC (@kingcaseymma)

A post shared by Casey O’neill UFC (@kingcaseymma)

The victorious: Julian Erosa

A post shared by Julian Erosa (@julian_erosa)

The victorious: John Castaneda

A post shared by John Castaneda (@johncastaneda_)

A post shared by John Castaneda (@johncastaneda_)

The victorious: Jared Gordon

A post shared by Jared Gordon (@jaredflashgordon)

The victorious: Tom Aspinall

A post shared by Tom Aspinall (@tomaspinall93)

A post shared by Tom Aspinall (@tomaspinall93)

The victorious: Philip Hawes

A post shared by Phillip Hawes (@philliphawes)

The victorious: Chris Daukaus

A post shared by Christopher Daukaus (@chris_daukaus)

The victorious: Darrick Minner

A post shared by Darrick Minner (@dminner145)

The victorious: Yana Kunitskaya

A post shared by Yana “Foxy” Kunitskaya (@yanamma)

The victorious: Derrick Lewis

A post shared by Derrick Lewis (@thebeastufc)

https://twitter.com/Thebeast_ufc/status/1363828978516066309

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-fight-night-185-reactions-winning-losing-fighters-social-media-twitter-instagram

 

UFC Vegas 19 Fallout: Derrick Lewis’s record-tying KO; Jon Jones’s move to heavyweight


MMAWeekly’s Jim “Gries” Grieshaber and Jeff Cain break down the weekly news in MMA and talk about the upcoming UFC events in Las Vegas.

The boys also wrap up the UFC Vegas 19: Blaydes vs. Lewis, where Derrick Lewis pulled off a huge upset with his record-tying knockout of Curtis Blaydes in the main event. What does Lewis’s knockout do to the division? Where does former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones land upon making the move to heavyweight?

(Subscribe to MMAWeekly.com on YouTube)


TRENDING Gina Carano fires back on being canceled; Dana White expresses support for her



Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-vegas-19-fallout-derrick-lewiss-record-tying-ko-jon-joness-move-to-heavyweight

 

Watch Amanda Nunes demolish Ronda Rousey ahead of UFC 259


UFC bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes defended her belt and took down one of the biggest names in UFC history when she finished Ronda Rousey at UFC 207 back in 2016.

Now a two-division champion, Nunes will put her featherweight title on the line Against Megan Anderson at UFC 259 on Saturday, March 6.

Watch Nunes’s destruction of Rousey at UFC 207 ahead of her bout with Anderson at UFC 259.

(Video courtesy of UFC)


TRENIDNG Watch Israel Adesanya destroy Paulo Costa ahead of UFC 259


Recount Amanda Nunes’s win over Germaine de Randamie at UFC 245

(Subscribe to MMAWeekly.com on YouTube)


Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/watch-amanda-nunes-demolish-ronda-rousey-ahead-of-ufc-259

 

 

 

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