UFC Vegas 45, UFC Fight Night: Derrick Lewis vs. Chris Daukaus
Saturday December 18, 2021 at 4:00 PM eastern
UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada
Derrick Lewis is 16-5 in the UFC since 2014, he was KO'd in 4 fights and submitted once
#UFCVegas45
Props to look into:
Gerald Meerschaert submission, 7 of his 8 UFC wins by submission
Derrick Lewis KO, 12 of his 16 UFC wins by KO
Justin Tafa KO
Don'tale Mayes KO
By decision:
Stephen Thompson
Ricky Simon
M Gamrot
C Swanson
R Barcelos
Raquel Pennington
S Eubanks
A Lemos
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Chris Daukaus:
“Making the walk, and then, just getting my hand raised at the end. I really don’t care how I beat him. I just think I’m going to outwork him, and I really think that he has nothing for me. He’s obviously skilled and one of the best guys in the division.
But I think he’s very one-dimensional in his attacks. And I think that I’ll be able to pick him apart, and no disrespect, I think I might be able to make it look really easy. So, that’s what I’m hoping for.
He’s certainly a character. Him as an opponent, as a martial artist, and a fighter, I think he’s a very well-rounded guy. Everyone makes the memes about how BJJ doesn’t work on Derrick Lewis, he just stands up and hits. But he knows what he’s doing in there. He knows how to fight, he knows how to finish people. He’s an extremely dangerous guy. No matter it’s 5 seconds in or if there are 5 seconds left in the fight. Whether that be a 15-minute fight or whether that be a 25-minute fight, he’s just that dangerous. His power, I think he’s got more power than Francis Ngannou, that’s just my personal opinion. Just because of the way those two fought and the way he’s able to shut people out and shut them off no matter what time of the fight. You saw when Francis fought Stipe Miocic, you saw there were certain points in the round when Francis was catching Stipe, he didn’t have that same pop he had at the beginning. I think Derrick Lewis just has that, no matter what time in the round it is, no matter what time in the cage it is, he can shut your lights off. So he’s an extremely dangerous opponent.
That punch is the one, dude. It's that one. Derrick Lewis has got that, whatever it is that he has got. He can do it to you thirty seconds into the fight, or he can do it to you with ten seconds left in the fight. So, that is the most dangerous thing.
Stylistically, I think I’m better everywhere except for maybe Derrick Lewis just has that super one-touch power. I think he has the most power in the division, I think he has more power than Francis Ngannou to be honest with you. Just because I think he carries it throughout each and every fight. We’ve seen Francis touch guys, specifically Stipe Miocic now granted Stipe and Francis fought a long time ago, they had a rematch and Francis has made leaps and bounds improvements in cardio and everything like that, I just think Derrick has a little bit more one-punch knockout power no matter where it goes and how long it goes.
Derrick is super athletic, people think he’s just a big one-punch guy who can just turn your lights out, he’s all those things, but he’s very athletic. The jumping knees he throws, he touches your outside then comes high with a high kick. He’s very athletic for how big he is, and I think people tend to forget that.
I was really excited. I didn’t think I was actually going to get this opportunity, I called out a bunch of people, didn’t get any of them, but I got Derrick Lewis and I fully expect to grab this opportunity with both hands and take advantage of it.
I’ve already made a splash jumping in and getting a top 10 knockout and now the only thing left other than a title shot is a main event. If the UFC wants me to be in a main event spot, I have no problem with that. I would rather train for the five, five-minute rounds before I get the title shot, but if the UFC has other plans, I will do whatever they want.
I want to fight in front of a UFC crowd, man. I want the full UFC experience. I want a press conference, crazy weigh-in crowds and all that. I haven’t had it yet and I want to experience that moment. But no matter what opportunity I get, I’m going to wrap both my hands around it, clasp my hands tight and run with it.
For the amount of time I have been in the UFC it’s important to note just how close I really am to a title shot. If I can get 1 or 2 big names or performances, there isn’t a reason why I couldn’t earn my chance at the belt.
I just want them to know who I am as a father, a brother, a husband. I want people to know I’m relatable. I work a 9-5. I want people to know that with the pandemic and with life you don’t know what’s going to happen and I’m fighting for the ‘Average Joe'.
People don’t realize sometimes we aren’t just fighters; we are human beings, too. I happen to be a police officer, too, and we are doing a job. When you’re in the middle of a downtown city and there are buildings on fire and people are screaming for help, I am okay in those life and death situations. Fighting in the Octagon isn’t life or death for me; it’s my break away from that.”
-Chris Daukaus