Derrick Lewis believes the recent shake-up at the top of the UFC heavyweight division could work in his favor.
As he prepares to headline UFC on ESPN 70 this Saturday against Tallison Teixeira (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Lewis (28-12 MMA, 19-10 UFC) has been entertaining the idea of a future matchup with newly crowned heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC).
Aspinall, the former interim titleholder, was elevated to undisputed champion status following Jon Jones’ retirement last month. The British standout—who has already defeated six of the top ten ranked fighters in the division—has publicly stated his goal is to beat all ten.
Lewis, 40, currently ranked No. 9, would relish the opportunity to step into the Octagon with Aspinall.
"I stand up right there with him," Lewis said during an interview with MMA Junkie earlier this week. "That'd be good to fight him before everything is said and done with. I have a couple fights left on my contract, and I would love to finish out my contract. That would be great if I can. It'd be good. Let him know I need to fight Tom Aspinall for the belt."
If “The Black Beast” is granted the opportunity to face Aspinall, it would mark his third UFC title shot. Lewis was previously submitted by then-champion Daniel Cormier at UFC 230 and was stopped by Ciryl Gane in an interim title fight at UFC 265. However, both of those opportunities came on short notice — and Lewis is excited by the prospect of entering a title fight with a full training camp behind him.
"I haven't really fought for the belt," Lewis said. "They tried to give me a title fight when it was Stipe (Miocic), and I wasn't expecting the title fight because I had a knee injury, and I ended up fighting DC's big ass on short notice, then they tried to give me an interim title fight with Gane. I haven't really fought for the title with a proper buildup for a title fight, and that time to train and everything like that mentally.
"I believe (Aspinall is a good matchup)," Lewis said. "(Knocking him out) is all I could do. What do you think I'm going to do, tap him out with a submission or something? I'm just looking to knock guys out. Every punch I'm throwing, I'm looking to knock their head off. I'm not trying to waste anything."
