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There has long seemed to be simmering tension between UFC heavyweights Derrick Lewis and Curtis Blaydes. Maybe that’s just natural, given that they’re both near the top of the split and looked like they’re destined to eventually meet in the Octagon.
After snapping each other on social media several times along the way, the time has finally come, as the duo will take part in the UFC main event on ESPN 18 on Saturday night at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
On Wednesday’s virtual media day, Lewis (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) said that in the black contestants’ game, Blaydes (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was just angered at the success. of his opponent.
“Just a typical crab in a bucket, one of those black guys, crab in a bucket,” Lewis said of Blaydes. “He doesn’t want to see another black man succeed. Typical.”
Last time around, Lewis became the UFC knockout heavyweight king. His second-round arrival from Aleksei Oleinik on August 8 was his 11th KO / TKO inside the Octagon, placing him first on the all-time roster at 265 pounds.
Blaydes called it “The Black Beast,” which gained lasting popularity for its ability to absorb blows and then find a way to win, a predictable fighter. As for Lewis, he has nothing to hide, so if Blaydes wants to call him predictable, go for it.
“Yeah, I’m predictable,” Lewis said. “It’s good if he thinks I’m predictable. I do not care. They all know what I’m going to do, most of them. … This will be my 21st fight in the UFC. My game plan and my game, my way of fighting, my style has not changed. Guys have said the same thing before. And you see I’m the knockout king, so we’ll see. I’m predictable, OK. It is also predictable.
Lewis piloted his “predictable” style to a title shot, where he lost to then-champion Daniel Cormier in November 2018 at UFC 230. Some might have struck Lewis off as a candidate after losing to Cormier and followed by defeat. at Junior Dos Santos.
But he responded with three straight wins, and a win over Blaydes would make four. Lewis knows champion Stipe Miocic will likely face Francis Ngannou, but he believes a win here gives him the right to call the next.
“I believe I should have the winner of Ngannou and Stipe,” he said.
UFC on ESPN 18 takes place on Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event airs on ESPN2 and airs on ESPN +.
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