At long last, UFC 230 has a main event. That’s thanks to the willingness of UFC heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier and heavyweight contender Derick Lewis to step in an battle in the card’s main event on very short notice.<\/p>\n
While Daniel Cormier and Derrick Lewis will not have a lot of time to prepare for their UFC 230 main event title fight, it sounds like the UFC has made it worth their while.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the media this week, Derrick Lewis said that he expects to be be paid more at UFC 230 than he has for his 2018 battles with Alexander Volkov, Francis Ngannou and Marcin Tybura combined.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s probably more than I made this year already,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
This massive payday, as you can probably imagine, has motivated Derrick Lewis to take his training to the next level.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot just the title on the line, whenever I saw my contract and see the zeroes, I was like, \u2018OK, I can start training now,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cBefore, like I told y\u2019all before, I don\u2019t stay in the gym like everyone else does, my opponents. It\u2019s pretty obvious, after the fight I\u2019m laying all over the floor, I\u2019m tired. Ready to go sit my ass down somewhere.”<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this fight right here, I\u2019ve really been training all day long. Drinking more water than I need to be drinking. Really taking it more serious. There\u2019s not gonna be no excuses for myself \u2014 win, lose or draw.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the end of the day, Derrick Lewis feels that this heavyweight title shot, and the payday that’s coming with it, was just too good an opportunity to pass up.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just one that I can\u2019t pass up, because I know there\u2019s a lot of guys in this division that probably deserve a shot more than I\u2019m getting,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cI probably don\u2019t deserve a shot more than Stipe [Miocic], who should have got the shot. But ain\u2019t no telling the next time I\u2019m gonna get the opportunity, so I gotta jump on it anyways.”<\/p>\n
How much do you think Derrick Lewis will pocket for UFC 230?<\/p>\n