Who’s next for Derrick Lewis after beating Tallison Teixeira?
MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn plays matchmaker and looks ahead to what makes sense for Derrick Lewis in this edition of “Sean Shelby’s Shoes.”
Daniel Cormier is throwing Derrick Lewis’ name in the UFC heavyweight title mix.
Cormier doesn’t see too many options for UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall’s next title defense after Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) has already beaten top contenders such as Alexander Volkov, Curtis Blaydes, and Sergei Pavlovich.
All signs are pointing to Ciryl Gane as Aspinall’s next opponent, but after Lewis (29-12 MMA, 20-10 UFC) knocked out Tallison Teixeira in the UFC on ESPN 70 headliner this past Saturday, Cormier doesn’t rule out the possibility of “The Black Beast” jumping the line.
“Probably could (get a title shot), man, with the way the heavyweight division is right now,” Cormier told MMA Junkie of Lewis. “He might get an opportunity. If all things were considered and you just need somebody to put on a show, a person that you know is going to bring the eyes, it’s Derrick Lewis.
“He really is going to bring more eyes than most in the division right now. Tom Aspinall needs challengers. Chael Sonnen told me that on our show, ‘If Ciryl Gane so much as coughs, Derrick Lewis is going to get a title fight.'”
Many, including UFC CEO Dana White, thought Lewis’ TKO win over Teixeira was an early stoppage. While Cormier doesn’t disagree, he gives referee Jason Herzog the benefit of the doubt.
“I think (the stoppage) was bad, but when a guy grabs the fence to pull himself up you’ve got to do something,” Cormier said. “You can’t reset the position because he’s getting finished. I think he made the right decision. We’re pretty hard on these officials a lot of times, but I think under those circumstances, he was left with no option.”
