Nov 4, 2023; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Derrick Lewis (blue gloves) reacts after losing to Jailton Almeida (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at Ibirapuera Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports

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Derrick Lewis Eagerly Eyes His Chance To KO UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall

Derrick Lewis gives his take on the heavyweigght division post-Jon Jones; wants to fight Tom Aspinall soon!

The UFC heavyweight division has always been about one thing: power. When giants clash inside the octagon, fans know they are just one punch away from witnessing something spectacular. Few fighters embody this raw knockout power quite like Derrick Lewis. The 40 year old Texan has built his entire career around a simple philosophy: hit hard, hit often, and send opponents home early. With 15 knockout victories in the UFC alone, Lewis holds the all time record for heavyweight knockouts in the promotion. He has turned this devastating power into must see television, earning fight bonuses along the way.

But Lewis hasn’t always gotten the timing right when it comes to title shots. His previous two attempts at UFC gold came at the worst possible moments. Back in 2018, he faced Daniel Cormier at UFC 230 with less than a month to prepare properly. The rushed timeline showed, and Cormier submitted him in the second round. Three years later, Lewis got another shot against Ciryl Gane for the interim title at UFC 265. Once again, the preparation time was short, and Gane’s technical striking game proved too much. Now, with Tom Aspinall holding the undisputed heavyweight championship after Jon Jones stepped away, Lewis sees his best opportunity yet.

Derrick Lewis Believes Tom Aspinall Is His Perfect Matchup

Lewis didn’t hide his excitement about a potential fight with Aspinall. The British champion has made it clear he wants to face every ranked heavyweight he hasn’t fought yet. Lewis fits that bill perfectly, and he is more than ready to answer the call. Talking to MMA Junkie, this is what he said:

“I stand up right there with him. That’d be good to fight him before everything is said and done with. I have a couple fights left on my contract, and I would love to finish out my contract. That would be great if I can. It’d be good. Let him know I need to fight Tom Aspinall for the belt.”

Derrick Lewis reacts to Tom Aspinall's plan to wipe out the entire top 10 with four title defenses in 12 months.

"Let him know you can fight Derrick for that belt."

(via @MikeBohn) pic.twitter.com/ZrhzjDsfPw
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) July 8, 2025

What makes Lewis so confident about facing Aspinall comes down to fighting styles and preparation time. Both Cormier and Gane presented unique challenges that exposed Lewis’s weaknesses. Cormier’s wrestling pedigree and submission skills gave him multiple ways to win beyond just striking. Gane’s technical precision and movement made him a difficult target to hit cleanly. Aspinall, while skilled, relies more on aggressive striking exchanges and that plays directly into Lewis’s strengths.

Derrick Lewis Reveals Gameplan For Potential Tom Aspinall Fight

Lewis has learned from his previous title fight mistakes. Both times, he accepted fights on short notice without proper preparation. But Lewis maintains those weren’t really title fights in the traditional sense. The pattern of rushed preparation has haunted his biggest opportunities. When asked about his gameplan for fighting Tom Aspinall, this is what he said:

“(Knocking him out) is all I could do. What do you think I’m going to do, tap him out with a submission or something? I’m just looking to knock guys out. Every punch I’m throwing, I’m looking to knock their head off. I’m not trying to waste anything.”

While Aspinall has looked impressive as champion, he hasn’t faced anyone with Lewis’s combination of experience and knockout power. The British fighter’s aggressive style might give Lewis the openings he needs. After two failed title attempts, Lewis believes the third time could finally be his charm. All he needs is the right preparation and the right moment to land that career defining shot. For now, Lewis first needs to get past Tallison Teixeira at UFC Nashville this Saturday.

(Image Credit: Jason da Silva – Imagn Images)

Derrick Lewis

Tom Aspinall

UFC Nashville

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!