Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
A Heavyweight showdown between Derrick Lewis (No. 4) and Alexey Oleinik (No. 11) is being targeted to headline an upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event on Aug. 8, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
That’s according to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, who brought word of the pending 265-pound matchup earlier today (Tues., June 16, 2020). While verbal agreements are in place, the promotion has yet to make the fight — or the event — official.
Winner of two straight, Lewis was last seen defeating Ilir Latifi at UFC 247 this past February in Houston, Texas (recap). A few days after the bout, “Black Beast” revealed that a potentially serious health issue could delay his combat career. According to the ESPN report, everything came out aces for Lewis in the doctor’s exams, paving the way for him to resume his MMA career.
Olienik, meanwhile, has also won two in a row and was most recently seen edging out former 265-pound champion, Fabricio Werdum, via split decision at UFC 249 last May. Prior to that, “Boa Constrictor” submitted Maurice Greene at UFC 246 via armbar.
Oleinik took to social media to post his unique way off signing on to face “Black Beast.”
Previously, Lewis revealed that he would not be fighting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those comments, however, were made in April when UFC was still trying to figure out how to safely stage an event.
Since then, the promotion has staged six events and will have put on several more by the time fight night rolls around in August. So perhaps after seeing all of the safety protocols the promotion has in place prompted “Black Beast” to have a change of heart.
That said, care to offer up your way too early predictions for the Heavyweight showdown?