Latest news with #heavyweight
Forbes
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Derrick Lewis Says He Nearly Had To Beg To Get UFC Nashville Fight
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 11: (L-R) Derrick Lewis battles Rodrigo Nascimento of Brazil in a ... More heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Enterprise Center on May 11, 2024 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Derrick Lewis, who holds the record for most knockout wins in UFC history, has his next fight booked. However, the former UFC heavyweight title challenger, who has not set foot inside the Octagon for more than a year, said securing the UFC Nashville main event fight opposite Tallison Teixeira was not easy. "It's crazy that nobody's fighting right now," Lewis recently told MMA Junkie. "Heavyweight, I don't know what's going on. I damn near had to beg to get this fight, so I don't know what's going on. Hopefully we can stay active after this." UFC Nashville takes place on July 12 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Lewis (28-12-0-1) is the No. 9 fighter in the official UFC heavyweight rankings. The 40-year-old former UFC title challenger is coming off a May 2024 knockout win over Rodrigo Nascimento. Lewis, who owns the record for most knockouts in UFC history with 15, is 2-4 in his past six trips to the Octagon dating back to February 2022. Lewis has been with the UFC since 2014. He also has the UFC record for most finishes in the heavyweight division with 15. No active UFC heavyweight has as many fights in the Octagon as Lewis does at 29. Lewis has a UFC heavyweight record eight fight-night bonus awards. Lewis was scheduled to face Jhonata Diniz in November, but he was forced to withdraw from that contest after he had weighed in because of an undisclosed medical issue. Teixeira (8-0) joined the UFC in 2024 with a knockout win on a Dana White Contender Series card. The 25-year-old made his official UFC debut in February 2025, scoring a first-round knockout and a "Performance of the Night" bonus in a win over Justin Tafa. The UFC is wasting no time in throwing Teixeira into the deep end of the heavyweight pool, giving him a veteran opponent in a main event contest. All eight of Teixeira's career wins have come via first-round stoppage (seven knockouts, one submission). He has been a pro since 2021. He is ranked No. 14 in the UFC's heavyweight weight class. Lewis said of Teixeira, "I know he's Brazilian, and he's a tall guy. He's a heavyweight, so pretty sure he's got knockout power. I didn't watch any of his fights yet, nothing like that, but my coach told me he's got a lot of first-round knockouts. ... I've been training for like four months now, non-stop really, down to every day, and I never did that before. I'm coming into this fight, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be in great shape. My six pack will be back." "Yeah, I'm comfortable," Lewis added. "I like fighting tall guys. It aligns with my right hand. The way I throw my right hand, it aligns with it." We will have more information on Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira and the UFC Nashville fight card as information becomes available. The UFC Fight Night card is airs on ESPN and ESPN+.
Daily Mail
19 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Fabio Wardley is an odds-on favourite to win at Portman Road next Saturday - while Australia's Justis Huni is a 3/1 underdog according to Sky Bet
We are less than a week out from a blockbuster heavyweight clash at Portman Road, as British, Commonwealth, and WBA Continental champion Fabio Wardley goes head-to-head with Australia's Justis Huni. Wardley proved he was the real deal in his highly-anticipated rematch with Frazer Clarke in October of last year, with the Ipswich native dominating his domestic rival en route to a first round knockout. As a result of his win, it was announced that Wardley would face a big-name heavyweight in Jarrell 'Big Baby' Miller, however the latter was forced to withdraw from the fight following a shoulder injury. Huni was then announced as Miller's replacement, and the undefeated Aussie will be looking to cause a major upset in enemy territory next Saturday and put himself firmly in the mix for a future world title shot. Huni isn't tipped to do so however, with the talented Brisbane prospect a 3/1 outsider according to Sky Bet. Conversely, Wardley is an odds-on favourite at 1/4, while a draw is the widest in the market at 16/1. Wardley is an odds-on favourite to win next Saturday - while Huni is an underdog at 3/1 odds With regard to the method of victory Huni is 8/1 to win by KO/TKO and 5/1 to be victorious by decision. Meanwhile, Wardley is a short 8/13 to stop his opponent and a wider 3/1 to get the nod on the judges' scorecards. Sky Bet odds for Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni: Fabio Wardley 1/4 Justis Huni 3/1 Draw 16/1 Fabio Wardley to win by KO/TKO 8/13 Justis Huni to win by KO/TKO 8/1 Fabio Wardley to win by Decision 3/1 Justis Huni to win by Decision 5/1
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Derrick Lewis Sends Explicit Message to Heavyweight Division
Derrick Lewis Sends Explicit Message to Heavyweight Division originally appeared on Athlon Sports. UFC Nashville is shaping up to deliver a summer spectacle on July 12 at the Bridgestone Arena. The card, already gaining momentum, recently added a high-stakes welterweight clash between Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson and Gabriel Bonfim, who is currently riding a two-fight winning streak. But while the spotlight may be shared, the centerpiece of the event remains a slugfest between two of the hardest-hitting heavyweights on the roster—one of whom isn't pulling punches outside the cage either. Advertisement Derrick Lewis, never shy with his words, had a few unfiltered thoughts about the state of the UFC's heavyweight division. In a candid conversation with MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn, Lewis admitted the booking didn't come easy: 'I damn near had to beg to get this fight, you know. So, I don't know what's going on. Hopefully we can stay active after this.' But it was his next few comments that turned heads. Frustrated by callouts and perceived disrespect, Lewis suggested a wild deterrent: 'I think what I need to start doing now, once I knock guys out, is start putting my finger in their a**. You know, people don't want to call me out afterwards.' He doubled down, adding: 'If I start putting my finger in my opponent's a** while they knocked out on the ground, I don't think nobody want to call me out anymore.' Derrick LewisPhoto by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC And finally, with signature flair: 'No diddy.' Though outrageous, Lewis's irritation isn't without cause. The heavyweight division remains in limbo, with no clear resolution on whether Jon Jones will retire or if Dana White and the UFC plan to strip him of the title. Until then, fighters like Lewis are left navigating uncertainty while trying to stay active in a stalled division. Dana White UFC(Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) His upcoming bout against the undefeated Tallison Teixeira should be a solid clash, offering a chance to make a definitive statement in a murky title picture. Advertisement Related: Legal Storm Intensifies Around BJ Penn, New Developments Emerge: Report Related: UFC Makes Announcement About Nashville Card This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Aspinall shares petition for UFC to strip Jones of belt
Tom Aspinall is continuing his campaign to fight for the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship by sharing a link on Instagram to a petition urging the promotion company to strip Jon Jones of his 32, has been interim heavyweight champion for 18 months and was passed over by Jones as his opponent for his injury comeback last November, with the 37-year-old fighting Stipe Miocic months later, Manchester's Aspinall has repeatedly said he is unsure if he will fight Jones UFC fans have tried to take matters into their own hands by setting up a petition, with more than 150,000 people calling for Jones' title to be taken off from Thailand this week, Jones has continued to keep his cards close to his chest regarding his future."I don't know what life holds as far as fighting and competing," Jones said on DeepCut with VicBlends., external"There's a lot of great competition still in the UFC. I do view myself as more than a fighter, and being in my position, I feel like I have a lot more options than a lot of the other fighters as far as the ability to leave and return and things like that."Aspinall has beaten every fighter in the top five of the rankings except Frenchman Ciryl Gane, who sits at number two. Jones enjoys teasing people on social media and said last week he had already told the UFC his plans, and was unsure why it had not shared them with the American hinted he was retired, before appearing to suggest he would be open to fighting in the UFC is widely considered one of, if not the best, MMA fighter of all time and has an overall record of 28 wins, one loss and one became the youngest UFC champion aged 23, a two-weight champion, and is undefeated in 20 UFC fights in a row - the company's longest unbeaten streak."I'm so connected to winning, it's probably not even healthy," Jones said."I see fighters that take losses and they smile, they hug their wives, 'better luck next time'."If I were to ever lose I'd be devastated, angry, upset, and depressed."
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
‘Doesn't make sense' – Joseph Parker has theory for Daniel Dubois' last-minute withdrawal as Brit gears up to face Usyk
JOSEPH PARKER can't help but feel the timing of his fight with Daniel Dubois falling through was a tad suspicious. The resurgent New Zealander was set to challenge Triple D for the IBF heavyweight title on a stacked Saudi Arabia card in February. 5 5 But his shot at becoming a two-time heavyweight champion was agonisingly ripped away from him just days before the Riyadh rumble as Dubois was struck down by a viral infection. Dubois, 27, insists he pulled out of the desert dust-up on doctor's orders. Although Parker, who ended up fighting Martin Bakole, can't help but think Oleksandr Usyk 's calls for an undisputed straightener may have played a small role in the Brit's withdrawal. Speaking exclusively to SunSport thanks to Casino Hawks, the 33-year-old said of the fight falling through: "I was left in the dark. "I guess you can't really [doubt him]. I mean, you just got to take his word for it, you know. "He wasn't feeling the best and he pulled out of the fight. "It just doesn't make sense, though, that Usyk was calling him out all week and then he pulled out of the fight. "And then now, they've made this big fight." JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 5 Dubois will challenge pound-for-pound king Usyk for all the heavyweight marbles in a historic unification bout at Wembley on July 19. And although he still has his suspicions about Dubois' pulling out, Parker won't continue to beat a dead horse. Fans hail brilliant moment stunned Joseph Parker discovers he's fighting Bakole He continued: "If a man says he's sick, he's sick. I've just got to take him for his word." Parker is seemingly in pole position to face the winner of the July joust as he's the mandatory challenger for the WBO strap he held for just under a year and a half. But he's refusing to count his chickens before they hatch, saying: "I know Frank Warren said a few things that I might be next to fight for undisputed unification. "But there were no discussions. And for me, it's just words at the moment. "It'd be nice to get something in writing and to get something solid. But at the moment, it's just words. "If it can happen, I'll be extremely over the moon."
