- Derrick Lewis KOd Aleksei Oleinik in the main event of the UFC on ESPN+ 32.
- This was his 11th KO in the heavyweight division, a new UFC record.
- Oleinik had a chance to beat Lewis, but the end of the round saved the American.
- The Black Beast aims to attack the title once again, and he will try to cut down more of his weight to do so.
Lewis Beats Oleinik Via Second-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis broke the UFC heavyweight record to defeat Aleksei Oleinik in the headliner of the UFC on ESPN+ 32.
The former title-challenger knocked out the Russian at 0:21 of the second round posting his 11th TKO/KO win, the most in the heavyweight division. Lewis was hyped after the match because of the record, especially because he surpassed the guys for whom he had a lot of respect.
“It’s crazy. I still can’t believe that I’ve got the most knockouts,” Lewis said. “It’s a crazy feeling because of all the great heavyweights before me. … Seeing they didn’t accomplish what I did, I’ve just gotta stay humble about it.”
Yet, this win didn’t come easy for him. Oleinik was the one who could have finished the match first, as he used Lewis’ reckless approach.
The Black Beast was better in the stand up fight, where he had the initiative, but after a while, he went for a takedown, which could have cost him the match. He brought down the Russian, but after doing so, Lewis ended up on his turf. Just to remind you, Oleinik’s nickname is Boa Constrictor, and you can guess why that is.
In no time, the 43-year old was all over the big American, pressuring and trying to find a way to submit him. If it weren’t for the end of the round, Lewis would definitely find himself losing this battle.
“He had that British bulldog, whatever the hell — that head submission on me,” Lewis was explaining after the match how he felt when Oleinik tried to perform the Americana choke on him. “He had it pretty deep. I couldn’t breathe at all.”
Going back to his corner and receiving some advice from the coaches and trainers, was very helpful for the favorite, who calmed down and went out roaring at the start of the second round.
Lewis Wants to Attack the Title
Before this event, Lewis was No.6 in the heavyweight rankings, while on the other side, Oleinik sat at No.10. A KO win over the Russian would undoubtedly bring the 35-year old into a solid position when talking about the future fights.
With three wins in a row, he could expect a sounding opponent. It might not be a title eliminator fight, but a battle that could earn him such a thing.
Right now, Francis Ngannou is the first in line to receive a shot against the better from Miocic vs. Cormier spectacle, and it wouldn’t be odd to see Lewis in some event that decides the next challenger. All this is in Dana White’s hands.
