UFC Fight Night results: Derrick Lewis stops Curtis Blaydes with devastating 2nd-spherical KO

As we now appreciate learned over the years, all it takes is one punch from Derrick Lewis to pause a strive against. 

Curtis Blaydes learned that out the laborious manner. 

The No. 4-ranked Lewis could well possibly also appreciate actually punched his manner into the heavyweight title conversation with a brutal second-spherical knockout of Blaydes within the predominant occasion of UFC Fight Night on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday evening.

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Lewis knew what Blaydes had device to stop, and on the major different to flip back the No. 2 contender’s wrestling, he did so in devastating model. 

Blaydes stayed appropriate out of striking vary in an efficient first spherical, and he additionally bowled over Lewis by inserting collectively punches and kicks that got the “Murky Beast’s” attention. He gave the impact to stun Lewis on loads of occasions.

Blaydes made his first takedown strive within the second spherical but Lewis used to be in a position to stay honest. Sensing that Blaydes would take into yarn to procure the strive against to the mat, Lewis met his opponent’s takedown are attempting with a superbly timed uppercut that landed with a sickening thud. 

Blaydes collapsed to the canvas and Lewis adopted him, throwing a pair of brutal hammerfists to save an pause to the evening. 

“That used to be the punch I was expecting all of the strive against,” Lewis said. “I knew he used to be going to return in and that’s what I wanted. I didn’t care about throwing the 1-2 or the relaxation.”

Lewis could well possibly also appreciate to back for his title different with Francis Ngannou powerful UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in March. If he doesn’t procure a shot loyal away, then he would esteem to welcome Jon Jones to the division. 

“I heard Jon Jones is coming up, so it don’t originate no sense for me to tell that I’m a strive against for the title,” Lewis said.

But he additionally made it sure that he would journey a shot on the champion. “I recount (I are looking out out for to strive against) Stipe. I like them wrestlers,” he said.