Lewis makes the big calls in title quest
Not many fighters call out Mark Hunt.
Maybe it’s the six knockout wins in the UFC, the tree trunk legs, which make him hard to take down, or the threat of his left hook — he just doesn’t seem the type to pick a fight with.
But when Derrick Lewis called for Hunt following his knockout win over Travis Browne ( 18- 6- 1) at UFC Fight Night 105 in February, it was professional rather than personal.
“I believe he’s the toughest opponent that’s going to give me a good fight,” Lewis said.
Lewis ( 18- 4, 1 NC), a rugged brawler on a six- fight win streak, doesn’t step in the octagon with the intention of letting the fight go to the judges. “I don’t like being in a boring fight.” Lewis has pulled on his four- ounce gloves for 11 fights in the UFC and 10 of them have finished inside the distance. So he has found the ideal opponent in Hunt because the Super Samoan doesn’t have a habit of hearing the judges’ scores either.
Lewis is No 6 in the UFC rankings, with Hunt one rung below, and victory in the main event at UFC Fight Night 110 in Auckland tomorrow morning will keep the winner relevant in the heavyweight division.
It often doesn’t take a lot to put together a case for a title shot given the thin nature of the heavyweight landscape and Lewis knows the importance of tomorrow’s bout.
“It’s just my time. I’m in the prime of my career and I believe it’s now or never. I’m ready to take on anyone. It doesn’t matter who it is, as long as I believe they’re going to come out and give me a good fight.”
The 32- year- old American, nicknamed “The Black Beast”, isn’t the most technical striker but has used a vicious ground- and- pound as his calling card lately. Five of his last six wins have come via knockout and he knows both he and Hunt have the ability to finish the fight rapidly.
Lewis, a family man who said he missed his kids while he was on the road, has enjoyed the New Zealand hospitality and friendly locals.
He joked about the ease with which he had hitchhiked back to his hotel this week, while he also liked his traditional Maori welcome at the Orakei Marae.
“The whole welcome was pretty cool. It almost felt like the same atmosphere as being inside a church.”
Given Hunt will be the hometown hero tomorrow, Lewis seemed happy to play the villain.
“I don’t care about being booed at all. I’m not really doing it for the fans, I’m doing it for my family.”
Lewis might not be doing it for the fans this weekend but all the ingredients are there for a fan- friendly fight when the cage door closes.