Blaydes: I don’t think Lewis is putting in the work
#2 ranked UFC heavyweight Curtis Blaydes is on a four-fight win streak heading into his fight vs. #4 ranked, on…
#2 ranked UFC heavyweight Curtis Blaydes is on a four-fight win streak heading into his fight vs. #4 ranked, on a three-fight win streak Derrick Lewis, in the main event of UFC Vegas 19 on Saturday. During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani MMA Show, Blaydes questioned Lewis’s training and respect for the sport.
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“Razor” trains at 5000′ elevation at Elevation Fight Team in Denver, Colorado, alongside the likes of Justin Gaethje, Kamaru Usman, and Neil Magny; his work ethic is above reproach. The ever affable Lewis is a fan favorite in part because the blue belt’s training appears to be a little less spartan.
I don’t have any reason to call him a bad guy, said Blaydes. I haven’t seen anything that would point to that, but I do think his humor is a little like low-hanging fruit. Like, ‘I’m tryna be the big guy’ and make the weak, easy jokes like, ‘my balls was hot’ and stuff like that. I wouldn’t do that, that’s not my type of personality, but I’m not hating on him – that’s one of his shticks, it’s not hurting nobody.
He’s not Colby Covington so I have no problem with him. I just … I don’t think he puts in the work. And I don’t think he respects the game the way I do, ’cause I’ve seen in a couple of interviews — he works out once or twice a week. I don’t know if that was because he had a back injury or if that’s just like a preference thing, but — I just don’t think he’s putting in the work to be great, that a lot of other guys are putting in to be great.
I’m putting in that work and I see a lot of guys at Elevation – I see the type of work that’s needed to be great. I watch Gaethje, I watch Usman, I watch Magny … I don’t think he’s working like that. I’m working like that, I don’t think he’s working like that.
Regardless of whether Lewis’s reports on his training or lack thereof are part shtick, “The Black Beast” holds the UFC heavyweight record for T/KOs with 11, and is second overall only behind Vitor Belfort (12). UG, who do you like on Saturday night?
h/t Ross Markey for Low Kick MMA
