LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 08: Derrick Lewis reacts after his knockout over Aleksei Oleinik of Russia in their heavyweight battle throughout the UFC Fight Night occasion at UFC APEX on August 08, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) More.
This version of Lewis, who is investing more than a half-hour a day training and is actively wanting to improve his skills, would be a far larger difficulty for the champion than he was at UFC 230 in 2018, when he was sent by Cormier.
Lewis opened Saturdays bout strongly, tossing a high kick at Oleinik that hardly missed and then following up with a flurry of punches. He revealed what he was capable of because blast, a terrifying puncher efficient in striking anytime.
Oleinik, had his minutes in the. He rode out the storm and handled to get position on Lewis, spending much of the last minute of the round on leading searching for a submission.
He wasnt prepared for the Lewis explosion at the start of the 2nd and it cost him the fight.
In the co-main event, previous middleweight champion Chris Weidman rallied in the third round to pull out a consentaneous decision over Omari Akhmedov, providing him his very first win in more than 3 years.
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LAS VEGAS– Derrick Lewis spent the latter half of the first round on his back, with veteran Aleksei Oleinik crawling on top of him trying to find an opening that would lead to a fight-ending submission.
A fighter introduced as a brawler wants no part of that position.
When the 2nd round began, Lewis did something about it. Lewis was instantly on top of him and started shooting away.
Lewis supported his pre-fight words, when he spoke about his increased training and dedication to improving. He looked far much better physically than he has in the majority of his battles and he had the explosion he d become understood for in his rise to the top of the UFC heavyweight division.
When he got up after that brief however effective Lewis assault, Oleinik had several knots on his head and a bloody nose and mouth.
While hes ranked fourth, in a sense hes third, because No. 1 contender Daniel Cormier battles champion Stipe Miocic on Aug. 15 in the primary occasion of UFC 252 and plans to retire after that.
Lewis is that much closer to a title shot with just Cormier, Francis Ngannou and Curtis Blaydes ahead of him.
When the 2nd round began, Lewis did something about it. He roared from his corner and dropped Oleinik with a crushing. Lewis was immediately on top of him and started firing away. Referee Herb Dean called a fast stop to it to offer Lewis the victory in the primary event of a card Saturday at Apex.
