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The only stunner taller than the right hand that Derrick Lewis had used to knock down Alexander Volkov at UFC 229 on Saturday was the speed with which he won a fight for the heavyweight title against the champion Daniel Cormier – just three days later.
Few people were more surprised than compatriot and compatriot Curtis Blaydes. And not in a good way.
"It's a little surprising to hear Lewis' latest performances, but I guess I'm not so shocked," Blaydes told the Tribune in a phone interview. "Anything can happen to the UFC.
"I think Derrick Lewis is doing well based on the strength of his post-fight interviews. He gives a lot of good sounds. He has a lot of followers on Instagram and Twitter. It's a popularity contest, and it's more popular right now. "
After defeating the champion of the time, Stipe Miocic, in July, he questioned himself about the opportunity to face Blaydes while he could fight for a bigger name of WWE star Brock Lesnar: "Do you want to go to war and win so much less money? If I fight Brock Lesnar, I get paid. "
Blaydes replied on Twitter that he was "tired of any politics".
But UFC President Dana White has disputed the idea that money and politics influence the fight cards.
"Nah, nah, it's nothing to do with it," says White. "Curtis Blaydes is still a young man in the heavyweight division. … He's a talented guy, but he still has work to do.
READ MORE: Dana White, from UFC: Daniel Cormier vs. Derrick Lewis is ready to be screened
"Everyone thinks" Oh, politics is holding me back ", and this and that … Calm down, Clubber Lang, just keep winning and your time is up."
The UFC is no stranger to the controversy over how he assembles some of his cards, especially with a belt on the line, and the couple Cormier and Lewis as the main event of UFC 230 on Nov. 3 at Madison Square Garden is no different.
From Blaydes' point of view, this is just the latest example.
Blaydes was leading a four-game winning streak when he defeated Alistair Overeem in a series of brutal elbows during an impressive UFC 225 win in June in front of the home crowd in his hometown of Chicago .
After the fight, he immediately called for a shot for the title against Miocic, but Cormier was right. Cormier defeated Miocic in July and before this duel with No. 2 contender Lewis materialized, Cormier was trying to fight with Lesnar. Last week, he told TMZ Sports that he would try two more fights before retiring on March 20, on the occasion of his 40th birthday: Lesnar and his longtime foe Jon Jones, for Cormier-Jones III (light heavyweight), which White has approved.
If a fight against Lesnar does not take place, Cormier says he would give Miocic a rematch.
Lewis told the Tribune that while he was beating Cormier, he would like to fight with Demetrious Johnson, a confrontation that the UFC had been coveting for two years.
Blaydes, the number three heavyweight crown, is nowhere in this equation.
Blaydes, in a low voice, said that he knew "what I should do" but said that he did not want to become a showman, just to be considered a fighter.
"I do not want to be Derrick Lewis," said Blaydes. "He's a clown. It simply says the most random things to get a lot of points of view and tastes. I do not want to do that. "
During an interview on Tuesday, Mr. White is delighted with the millions of subscribers Lewis has earned on Instagram this week.
Lewis made a colorful reference to a body part during Volkov's post-fight interview that went viral. And a video he posted on Instagram in which he makes fun of Cormier for dancing and twerk in a popeyes chicken advertisement was gaining popularity on Wednesday.
Lewis said he was aware of Blaydes' public criticism of his character, but that was not important to him.
"Who cares?" Lewis said. "I do not even really try to entertain him. It's the boring fighter, really. "
Lewis argues that Blaydes is the type of fighter who avoids contact, hoping the weather will run out. "He does not really like getting up and exchanging (punching) or anything like that."
He added, "I have been in the UFC for longer than him. … My winning streak is much longer than his. My resume is much better than his. So what is he complaining about? He is lucky to be in the position he is currently in. Plus, he has a tough game in front of him. "
Blaydes has to face Francis Ngannou in a rematch during the rematch of Fight Night 141 on November 24 in Beijing.
White suggested that Blaydes make the same mistake as Ngannou in Overeem's December 2017 win against Miocic. "I've said it many times, let his ego run away from him in this fight with Stipe and watch what it caused him."
Ngannou lost unanimously against Miocic in this January fight, before giving up another decision against Lewis in July.
"Francis Ngannou is the only thing Blaydes should focus on and give an (expletive) explanation," said White. "Do not look after Ngannou."
White also defended Lewis's credentials for the title.
"He beat Matt Mitrione, Shawn Jordan, Gabriel Gonzaga, Roy Nelson, Travis Browne, Marcin Tybura, Francis Ngannou and Alexander Volkov. He beat all the top players in the world in the top 15. Do you know what I mean? You are ready for a title. "
Twitter @_phil_thompson
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