After a year long layoff, Derrick Lewis is set to return at UFC Nashville against up-and-coming heavyweight terror Tallison Teixeira.
Teixeira could be the next big thing at heavyweight. That’s certainly the hype after the 6’7” Brazilian took out Justin Tafa in 35 seconds with some violent knees elbows and knees. “Xicão” has never left the first round in his eight MMA wins, but according to “Black Beast,” he’s just a scrub.
“I ain’t trying to get no title shot, hell nah,” Lewis said on the Ariel Helwani show. “I want to just continue fighting taxi cab drivers right now. Then we can start talking about title shots.”
Lewis was last set to fight Jhonata Diniz in Edmonton back in November, but a last minute illness knocked him off the card. There aren’t too many taxi drivers in the UFC (metaphorically speaking), and Diniz had a serious kickboxing record worth considering. But we do argue that Lewis’ task is only tougher now that he’s fighting Teixeira.
“I can continue fighting these taxi cab fighters, these newcomers coming in who want to get their name,” Lewis said. “I like fighting guys like that right now. Keep ‘em coming.”
Lewis is always the joker so it’s unclear what his real thoughts are on Teixeira. But with the money he makes per fight — the UFC signed a deal that pays him high six figures per fight no matter if he wins or loses — he’s got less worries than most UFC fighters. At 40 years old, he feels comfortable with where he is.
“Once they hit me with that contract, I said s—, I could fight until I’m 50,” Lewis said. “Let’s go. Let’s do it.”
