Derrick Lewis’ next fight will kick off his 2022 schedule quickly as “The Black Beast” will make his return to the Octagon at UFC 271 on February 12. Where he will go toe-to-toe with a heavy hitter cut from a similar cloth in Australia’s Tai Tuivasa.

Who will Derrick Lewis’ next fight be against?

On the heels of a record-setting KO victory at UFC Vegas 45, Lewis is already set to return to action only two months after putting Chris Daukaus to sleep. Welcoming him back to the Octagon will be Tuivasa. A fighter who mirrors Lewis as a serious power puncher with a physique that does not match the norms of top athletes in 2022.

“Bam Bam” is a 10-fight UFC veteran who is on the best run of his career. After losing three straight and seeming on the brink of a possible pink slip, the 28-year-old has won four straight fights by knockout, with three coming in the first round. Several of his victims were previously ranked division mainstays in Stefan Struve and Augusto Sakai.

How to watch Lewis vs Tuivasa on Feb. 12

• Lewis vs Tuivasa will serve as a featured main card bout at UFC 271
• UFC 271 takes place on Feb. 12 from inside the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas
• The main card pay-per-view for $74.99 will kick off at 10 pm ET exclusively on ESPN+

Derrick Lewis vs Tai Tuivasa preview

Lewis vs Tuivasa is a clash of top-10 gorillas that were born to pummel men into unconsciousness. Neither will earn comparisons to slick technical strikers like Ciryl Gane or Jairzinho Rozenstruik, but both are far better athletes than they look. Furthermore, they each have the type of one-punch power that puts them at the upper echelon of knockout artists, in a division filled to the brim with them. The question is, who lands the fight-ending shot first?

• The Beast: Lewis is a special breed of heavy hitter. He has the record for the most KOs in UFC history and 81% of his 26 wins saw him put some massive individuals to bed. He is regarded as the hardest puncher in the promotion, and although he is unlikely to win a points fight, only elite level competition have been able to score Ws on the 36-year-old.
• The Shoey King: Tuivasa has not faced the level of competition as his opponent but you can not underestimate the confidence of a young streaking fighter who is no where near his heavyweight prime. Despite a little less notoriety, the man known for dabbling in shoeys actually has a better KO finish rate than Lewis at 92% over his 13 wins. He may not be “The Black Beast” but he is a beast nonetheless.

Bottom line: This fight is not built to last long, but still serves as a massive opportunity for Tuivasa to prove he is an elite talent in the weight class. For Lewis, it is almost a lose-lose situation because he will be expected to win by destruction. However, taking risks is what makes him such a fan favorite, and as always, viewers will win when he steps into the Octagon to earn a fifth straight W in his last six fights.

What Makes Derrick Lewis so popular?

You would think being named “The Black Beast” should strike fear in the hearts of observers of the sport. However, in the case of Lewis, while he surely gives opponents cold sweats, he has become a beloved and comedic figure in the MMA industry. From his admiration of Popeye’s chicken to his hilariously infamous hot balls moment at UFC 229 in 2018, he has become an adored one-of-a-kind figure in the UFC.

However, what the Texan has done inside the Octagon is no laughing matter. He has charted a path of destruction over his 21 Octagon appearances. Putting 12 opponents to sleep with a style of striking that won’t be used in any how-to teaching videos on perfect technique. No, he rose to the top of the heavyweight division with brutal force and the sort of power that seems more like something out of a Marvel comic.

At UFC 265, Lewis was unable to win the division crown in his second try, but he will nonetheless remain one of the top talents at heavyweight. He may not be championship quality, but his not of this world power is still one of the most fearsome forces and challenges in the weight class.

Derrick Lewis net worth

The measure of a fighter is often down to the bucks they’ve made. As of right now, Derrick Lewis’ net worth is speculated to be US $1.5 million.