The UFC curiously decided to award an interim title only four months after Francis Ngannou captured the real heavyweight strap by beating Stipe Miocic in Las Vegas. That's probably a good thing, because this interim belt has drawn much derision around the MMA world. “My mind still isn’t really on the title, because I’m still getting paid. “I’m still really not even thinking about that,” Lewis said. In fact, he had to be reminded recently that his next bout could end with a strap around his waist. The heavy-handed Lewis is on a four-fight winning streak, but he wasn't chasing this title shot. He lost to Daniel Cormier in his only previous title shot three years ago, and he maturely realized he might have to settle for a well-paid career headlining secondary fight nights when the UFC needs a popular name to draw eyeballs. Lewis has been in the UFC for seven of his 11 years in the sport, but has never been a champion. His kids might not be in his corner, but the 36-year-old Lewis will have the backing of essentially everybody else in the building when he attempts to reach the pinnacle of his career against France's Ciryl Gane (9-0), a muay thai champion who has rocketed to the top of MMA in just three years. We don’t care.’ All they care about is playing video games on YouTube and stuff like that.” They always say, ‘Who cares?’ Even the neighbor kids that say, ‘Your dad is famous!’ They say, ‘We know. “My kids don’t give a damn if I’m fighting,” Lewis said with a grimace. They won't even be at Toyota Center in Houston on Saturday night when Lewis (25-7) fights for the interim UFC heavyweight title in their hometown at UFC 265. Well, for everybody except his three kids. The veteran UFC heavyweight's violent fighting style and likable, funny personality have made his bouts must-see events for several years. Derrick Lewis is among the few universally beloved figures across mixed martial arts.
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