After knocking out Alexander Volkov in the final seconds at UFC 229, Derrick Lewis became an internet celebrity for taking his pants off inside the octagon and declaring to Joe Rogan that, ‘My balls was hot.’ Shortly afterwards, Lewis told Rogan that he was not ready for a heavyweight title shot because his cardio was still not good enough, but when the UFC came calling with an offer to challenge for the belt against Daniel Cormier at Madison Square Garden, Lewis decided that didn’t matter. Now, “The Black Beast” is getting ready for Cormier in the most Derrick Lewis way possible.

“Right now I’m a 2X. Usually I’m a 3X but I’m slimming down a little bit so I’m a 2X,” Lewis told The Rich Eisen Show recently. “I’ve been doing nothing but cardio. Even the sex. The sex really been helping my hips. I know Cormier is a wrestler so you really got to get them hips down on him so I’ve been working them hips really good.”

In recent years, Lewis has built a reputation as one of the most entertaining and colorful characters in the UFC and his contention that sex is a great training tool is sure to only add to that persona. Lewis even went on to dispel the myth that fighters should abstain from sex before bouts.

“Not me,” Lewis said. “Some times, a couple of times, I had sex the same day as I fought. Just to see if that myth was right, and it wasn’t right. But I was sleepy afterwards but I still had the energy though.”

Lewis didn’t have much time to get his cardio in order as his headlining spot at UFC 230 will take place less than a month after his miraculous comeback over Volkov. Fortunately for him, he won’t be facing the best Daniel Cormier ever, as Cormier has admitted that his hand is not “100% healed” and that he is only taking this short-notice fight because the money and because he believes he can beat Derrick Lewis at less than his best. Of course, people have tended to underestimate Lewis to there own peril, as Volkov can now attest to.

“I think Cormier is gonna come out and try to wrestle me, try to get me tired, and try to push the pace,” Lewis said. “I know he might not say that I’m on his level but I think I am and he thinking that I’m not, really. He’s thinking that it’s gonna be an easy fight for him, thinking that I don’t train hard like he does. Just because he’s an Olympic wrestler he’s thinking that it’s gonna be an easy fight for him.”

But it’s hard to argue that Derrick Lewis is an easy fight for anyone. With an overall record of 12-3, Lewis has won 9 of his last 10 fights including back-to-back wins over the highly ranked Volkov and Francis Ngannou in his last two fights. He may not be the classic MMA fighter, but he is undoubtably effective, and though other heavyweights may not see what he brings to the table, Lewis knows there’s more to his game than winging haymakers and getting lucky.

“Of course they would say that [I don’t deserve it], I guess just because my fighting style,” Lewis said. “Everyone else is a mixed martial artist. I’m not a mixed martial artist, I’m a brawler. Basically, I guess they just thinking I’ve been winning my fights just by luck. I just think I’ve been winning my fights on heart.”

Derrick Lewis challenges Daniel Cormier for the UFC heavyweight championship at UFC 230 on Nov. 3.

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MUST-READ STORIES

Results. Juan Espino moved on in the latest edition of The Ultimate Fighter 28.

$1M. NAC to release half of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s $2M UFC 229 purse, extend suspensions for Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor

Trade. UFC, ONE Championship working on Demetrious Johnson-Ben Askren trade.

Tests. Marlon Moraes: If TJ Dillashaw fights Henry Cejudo, ‘he doesn’t want to test himself’.

Lights Out. At long last, Shawne Merriman is ready to start his combat sports journey.

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VIDEO STEW

The A-Side Live Chat.

Derrick on Derrick.

Fight to watch.

TTTHS.

Even talking about it on UFC Tonight.

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LISTEN UP

Heavy Hands. Previewing UFC Moncton and the return of No Time.

Bushido Talk. Discussing the blockbuster MMA trade between the UFC and ONE.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

The big news. (Also, DJ took “UFC” out of his Twitter handle.

That’s right. There’s a blanket coming to town.

Chomping at the bit.

Jeez, man.

Pat Miletich taking it to a weird place.

MMA might get a hell of a lot more interesting now.

Not sure Chiesa understands what a tinfoil hat does.

Writing on the wall.

If there’s one fighter who needs an anger translator, it’s the Happy Warrior.

Great Tweet.

This hurts to watch.

But Tito sees through Chuck’s clever ruse....

Call out.

So, take this with several grains of salt, but this is Lobov addressing Kadyrov, who reportedly said Lobov and Takhugov should set up a fight outside of the UFC to settle things. Here, Lobov is supposedly saying that he appreciates the suggestion and that Kadyrov is a fan of MMA, but that he needs to wait and see what the UFC says first.

Tommy Toe Hold.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Alexandre Pantoja (19-3) vs. Ulka Sasaki (21-5-2); UFC Argentina, Nov. 17.

Renato Moicano (13-1-1) vs. Mirsad Bektic (13-1); UFC 231, Dec. 8.

Jinh Yu Frey (7-3) vs. Minna Grusander (6-1); Invicta FC 33, Dec. 15.

Danielle Taylor (9-4) vs. Montserrat Ruiz (9-0); Invicta FC 33, Dec. 15.

Sharon Jacobson (5-3) vs. Kanako Murata (8-1); Invicta FC 33, Dec. 15.

Amber Brown (7-4) vs. Alesha Zappitella (4-0); Invicta FC 33, Dec. 15.

Jamie Moyle (4-3) vs. Brianna Van Buren (4-2); Invicta FC 33, Dec. 15.

Sarah Kleczka (2-1) vs. B. Victoria Grizzelle (2-0); Invicta FC 33, Dec. 15.

Ashley Medina (0-1) vs. Anastasia Nikolakakos (2-0); Invicta FC 33, Dec. 15.

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TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2008: Anderson Silva successfully defended his middleweight title with a third round TKO (due to injury) of Patrick Cote at UFC 90. Before Cote blew out his knee, Silva was shockingly inactive, a trait that would reappear in several future fights and caused Silva to have friction with Dana White.

2014: Jose Aldo retained his featherweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Chad Mendes in their rematch at UFC 179.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

I strongly encourage you to watch the entire interview with Derrick Lewis. It’s very possibly the best MMA interview ever.

Alexander Lee and I were about 8 months ahead of the UFC on this front. Still a mystery to me why no one has hired us to run an organization.

Also, imagine trading one of the greatest fighters of all time - your most prolific champion, who has a readymade threematch right in front of him - for Ben Askren. “Yeah, I know we’ve spent several years building this guy up but instead we can release him and get a top position grappler Bellator chose not to re-sign when he was champion because he was so boring.

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

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EXIT POLL

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