Derrick Lewis Proclaims He’s One of The “Baddest Blue Belts”

Derrick Lewis certainly isn’t known for being a wizard on the ground. But, following his win over Aleksei Oleinik at UFC Vegas 6, the feared slugger had some interesting things to say about his jiu-jitsu game.

Lewis says he’s one of the “baddest blue belts” out there

The powerful heavyweight faced Oleinik in the main event of Saturday’s fight, and in the opening round, it looked like “The Boa Constrictor” might make good on his nickname again. Lewis found himself battling one of Oleinik’s go to chokes in round one, but the veteran remained calm and made it through the frame.

Moments into round two, Lewis sent Oleinik to the deck with a thunderous right hand, and finished the fight with follow-up shots.

Well, after the memorable bout, Lewis reflected on working his way through the tight-looking choke.

“I feel good,” Lewis said. “He fought just like we thought he was going to fight. The submission defense by him holding my neck like that is what we practiced all week – really the last two weeks, the elbow tuck and turn into him.

We (saw) him do that bulldog choke. You don’t want to get tapped on your neck like that, so I couldn’t tap.”

“I was wishing there were crowds in the stands because I was snorting, making a funny noise while he was choking the hell out of my neck,” Lewis said.

“I was like, ‘damn, I’m making too much noise. I wonder if they can hear it on TV.’ So I can’t tap like that. I know my kids watching. They would tease me forever.”

And then, Lewis noted that people need to learn he’s not just a heavy-handed striker.

“I knew I had it,” Lewis said. “I’m one of the baddest bluebelts in Texas, not only in the world. I probably am the baddest blue belt in the world.

Right Joe? I ain’t even got to strike tonight, so we’ll see. Keep up underestimating.”

Fair enough. Plenty of fighters, and talented grapplers as well, have been tapped by Oleinik over the years.

Who’s next for Lewis?

Saturday’s win was the third straight for Lewis, and it ensured he remains ranked in the top five of the division. So who is he looking at for his next opponent?

“Curtis Blaydes makes sense,” Lewis said. “(Francis) Ngnannou makes sense. (Alistair) Overeem makes sense. That’s about it.

We’ll see what happens next week and see who makes sense after that match. I for sure have to get down 15-20 pounds to feel comfortable in there.

Yep, then you’ll really see something scary out of me, for sure.”

Yup, all of those bouts sound good. It’s hard to imagine Ngannou agreeing to face Lewis again, however, as he’s next up for a title shot.

Lewis beat Ngannou by decision in 2018, in a bout that featured very few exchanges and was widely panned.