Derrick Lewis looks to prove he can still be in the top 5 at UFC Vegas 68 (video)

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Derrick Lewis gave the MMA media tips about easy methods to take selfies and rather more throughout the UFC Vegas 68 media day.

Derrick Lewis and Sergey Spivak have been imagined to face off again in November, however that bout was scrapped on account of Lewis having points exterior the cage. Now it’s February and the 2 heavyweights will meet in a primary occasion battle within the late hours of Saturday, February 4 at UFC Vegas 68.

“I received COVID,” Lewis mentioned when requested throughout media day what brought on the cancellation of the November bout. “I didn’t realize it was COVID, however I nonetheless needed to struggle. I didn’t discover out till the day I received residence. I received fairly sick. I received a fever and began losing a few pounds. It was dangerous.”

Lewis could also be combating for a spot on the roster. The 37-year-old has misplaced his final two, and three of his final 4. Even with these losses on his ledger, he’s nonetheless sitting within the seventh place within the UFC Heavyweight rankings.

Lewis remains to be a feared striker, and with 13 knockouts to his title, he has the file for probably the most in UFC historical past. It was that energy that carried him to 2 title alternatives, first dropping to Daniel Cormier at UFC 230 after which dropping a shot on the interim heavyweight championship to Ciryl Gane at UFC 265.

“I don’t blame them,” Lewis mentioned when requested about others not taking him significantly. “They felt like I wasn’t taking myself severe, the struggle sport severe. I gotta go on the market and show to everybody that I can nonetheless do that and nonetheless be within the prime 5.”

UFC Vegas 68 goes on within the late hours of Saturday into Sunday, as it’s a card that begins at 10 PM Jap Commonplace Time. Lewis doesn’t suppose moving into the Octagon that late will throw him off his sport in any respect.

“No as a result of I thought of it and I used to struggle round one, two o’clock once I was youthful,” Lewis mentioned. “Popping out of a bar although and I wasn’t getting paid. I used to do this again within the day so I actually don’t thoughts. I simply may as properly take naps all through the day and see how that goes.”

Sergey Spivak is a brand new problem coming from decrease within the rankings

Spivak is on the opposite aspect of his profession. Practically a decade youthful than his opponent, he’s seeking to push his means into the highest ten of the division. He comes into this struggle with a 15-3 skilled file and is at present in slot quantity 12 inside the UFC prime 15. Spivak final competed in August the place he defeated Augusto Sakai through second-round knockout.