Derrick Lewis dismisses UFC heavyweight title prospects ahead of Jailton Almeida fight - 'I really don't care'

Derrick Lewis insists a third heavyweight title shot is not on his mind as he prepares to face Jailton Almeida in front of the Brazilian’s home crowd on short notice.

Lewis, who is set for his first bout in Brazil after getting the call to replace Curtis Blaydes in the UFC Fight Night main event slot, was last in action in July when he snapped a three-fight losing streak against Marcos Rogerio de Lima with a first-round knockout.

With Jon Jones set for a spell on the sidelines after injuring a pectoral muscle while training for a showdown with Stipe Miocic at UFC 295, Britain’s Tom Aspinall will fight Sergei Pavlovich for the interim belt, and Lewis was asked whether he thought a win over the No. 9 ranked Almeida would put him in contention for another shot at gold.

“I really don't care,” Lewis said, in trademark fashion. “Jones, I don't even know how long he's going to be out, he might be out a year they say.

“So it all depends on how Stipe wants to look at it, if Stipe wants to wait for Jones to come back, or if [Tom] Aspinall or the other guy [Sergei Pavlovich] wants to wait around and wait for Jones but I don't know.

“And I really don't care.”

He added: “With this win, no I don't think I can get a title shot. I think I’ll have to fight a top-five opponent after this. Then we start talking about title shots.

“But as of right now, I don't think this fight right here gives me a title shot.”

As for the fight itself, Lewis is confident he can end Almeida's winning run.

The Brazilian earned a UFC contract through Dana White's Contender Series 39 in 2021 and has not lost since, with four of his six victories in the promotion coming via rear naked choke.

But Lewis, a renowned knockout artist, is adamant he can use his experience to prevail no matter where the fight goes.

“I think our skills match up pretty well, especially on the ground,” he said. “I think I could get a leg lock on him early in the first round.

“I've been doing this for a long time and so I’ve just been training everywhere. Wrestling, striking, jui-jitsu, wherever.

“So I'm prepared wherever the fight goes. I know he's a black belt in jiu-jitsu. I'm a purple belt and I believe I'm the baddest purple belt in Texas, so it's going to be a good competition for him.”

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