During his Octagon interview with Joe Rogan at UFC 229, Derrick Lewis expressed his hesitation to fight for the title just yet. “The Black Beast” stated that he was unsure if his cardio and conditioning would be able to suffice for such an elite contest.
But in a recent appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Lewis said that he now has a new cardio regimen, which at the same time, could also be the possible counter for Daniel Cormier’s wrestling when they face each other at UFC 230.
“I’ve been doing nothing but cardio. Even the sex,” Lewis said (transcript via MMA Fighting). “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.”
There is a standing belief that having sex before a fight could be detrimental to an athlete’s performance. Lewis, however, says he had busted this myth.
“Not me. 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.”
In all seriousness, though, the current heavyweight title challenger is assured that he is deserving of the title shot, notwithstanding the criticisms thrown at him by detractors.
“Of course they would say that [I don’t deserve it], I guess just because my fighting style. Everyone else is a mixed martial artist,” he said. “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.”
Cormier and Lewis will square off as the headliners for UFC 230 on November 3rd at Madison Square Garden in New York City.