The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - UFC's Derrick Lewis Talks Upcoming Heavyweight Matchup

Episode Date: October 30, 2024

Houston's own Derrick Lewis, who currently holds the record for most knockouts in UFC history, joins "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" to discuss his upcoming fight against Jhonata Diniz on November 2.

Right now, we are very happy to have a Houstonian on the program that is going to be fighting this week in Edmonton, Canada. Derek Lewis from the UFC is joining us here on the Matt Thomas show. Derek, it is Matt and Ross. It is really great to have you with us. Why did you choose Edmonton? Why did anybody choose Edmonton? Are you going to freeze your ass off up there or what? Yes, my balls with cold out here right now.

I don't know why. I don't know they this is the place they said I could I needed to be I told them I they're not even allow me in the country because you know so I have to do a whole back background check through the FBI trying to get over here I'm like man trying to do all these moops just trying to come to emminton but you know it's a good good country you know good your city you know I don't say nothing bad about it's no peaceful no we wouldn't make you we wouldn't want you to do that But, man, it's good to hear your voice. We're so happy to represent the city of Houston and UFC.

You got this fight. This is fight number 30 for you. And I would like to try to pronounce the guy you're going against, but I don't want to butcher his name. Jonathan Janice. How about that? I think. How about that?

That's good. That was going to be close enough. Did Derek get close in the name on that? Man, y'all just reminded me as, I couldn't pronounce it. You don't even care what his name is. You just want to knock him out, right? You're just going to end his... Yeah.

If there ain't no call, Ben, or time, something easier I could pronounce. I'm not about trying to sit here and try to pronounce the name. Why don't you go after a guy named Greg, like Greg Smith? That'd be a lot easier next time, Derek. I'm going to tell you that for sure. This is your 30th fight. How much different are you in terms of preparation, the mechanics, the art, the sport,

than you were in, say, your first or your fifth fight? I think I'm doing pretty good. You know, I'm finally starting to do it two of days. I never really did that at the beginning of my career. in the middle of my career. Now I'm doing two of days, so I think the two of days have really been helping. Is that going to help you with the kind of getting in the later rounds as well?

Yes, and also it's not five rounds, so I'm happy about that. So I'm very excited about three-round fight. I can really try to finish them in the first round now and be happy that I can last at least another round. And we appreciate you always representing Houston. You still coming out to Top's Drop? Yep, that's good. Time is that.

No, you're not going to mix it up with any like 25 lighters or Southside or anything like that? No, they're not ready for that. Okay, okay. Who do you like in the Texans' Jets game tomorrow night? Of course, the Texans, even though we're not even a favorite. That's crazy. I know, two-point dogs. That's crazy.

That's crazy. By the way, your UFC Fight Night's going to be on ESPN Plus, for those that want to catch you. I know they will because, look, there's no. Nothing going on on Saturday. The World Series will be over with. Football, all the good college games will be done. We're going to catch you on ESPN Plus. Let me ask you this.

You have not fought since May. How do you space out your schedule? So if people that were to follow you on a regular basis, know when you were going to get back into the octagon? I wanted to fight a lot sooner than that, but they just couldn't find out a worthy opponent for me. And so I had to wait, wait until the end of the year. We were supposed to be guaranteed three fights a year, so they really didn't hold up.

They end up bargaining. All right. So I'm only going to have two fights this year. So hopefully next year we'll get three fights. I hate waiting this long in between fights, though. And the recovery time after each individual one, I mean, I guess it depends on how long you go, but how long do you feel it, no matter if you're, you know, obviously you won a lot more than you've lost, but, I mean, how long does it take you to kind of recuperate after going in, you know,

in a match, a fight? Probably like two weeks, two weeks. You probably like to sleep. He probably sleep for like two days after the fight. No matter how it goes because there's so much of drilling and nerves and everything goes into a match.

So that right there, mentally it wears you out. And also it depends on the type of injury you have physically. 39 years old. Yeah, go ahead. Two weeks. Yeah, so most knockouts in UFC history with 15. You're 39 years old.

You just want to keep on fighting until they tell you no more? Or what do you feel like the rest of your career is going to pan out like? Hopefully it pan out pretty good. But it all depends on my body, my mind, and my family. And my family say that they don't want me to do it anymore, then I'm not going to do it anymore. But we're just making it smart investments right now. just so I can still live the lifestyle that I live right now.

And so that's all we work on right now and just the right of estimates. All right, so you've had 15 knockouts. Final question. Is there a common theme except please leave me alone? I mean, give me, have you thrown one punch and you heard the cry or a scream or something? It was like, damn, I can't believe I did that to that man. Yeah, it's awesome. Actually, it's like, man, it's like whenever you look at your opponent and you make a certain type of face,

I hear out so many hunted visuals of a lot of opponents, like when they're rolling their eyes and stuff like that. It's like, man, I'm definitely going to need some type of therapy after whatever's all sitting them because... Wow. I'm going to have PTSD for real. We don't want you to have that, so you've got to stay up right. So it makes you that then it become an issue. Hey, we wish you the very best, Derek. Thank you for coming on.

Thanks for representing Houston. Good luck this Saturday and stay warm, I guess, in Edmonton, and we'll look forward to seeing you on ESPN Plus this weekend. Yes, thank you for helping. All right, Derek, take care of yourself. Derek Lewis, represent the city of Houston.