The main event of UFC Vegas 6 featured an intriguing matchup between two heavyweights with very different styles: Derrick Lewis, a beast of a fighter with tremendous power and the ability to knock out anyone, versus Aleksei Oleinik, the 43-year-old submission specialist.
Seeking his 60th career win, Oleinik looked good early in the first round although it was clear he was outstrengthed by Lewis. Lewis overpowered Oleinik to the mat early on and landed some heavy blows, but "The Boa Constrictor" was able to reverse position and begin working for a submission. Oleinik desperately tried to submit Lewis with a scarf hold and while he appeared to have it locked in, Lewis was able to survive the round. Lewis later admitted in the post-fight interview just how tight the hold was but he was somehow able to fight through it.
Lewis came out of the break with a flying knee that caught Oleinik right in the chest, sending him stumbling backward. Lewis followed up with a hard right hand that dropped Oleinik and went in for the ground and pound. After taking some heavy shots, referee Herb Dean stepped in and waived off the fight at 21 seconds in the second round.
With the win, Derrick Lewis set a UFC record for most knockouts in the heavyweight division with 11. He is now tied with Junior Dos Santos at third on the list for most heavyweight wins in the UFC with 15. The No. 4-ranked Lewis seems to be knocking on the doorstep of another title shot but vowed to not step into the Octagon again until he gets down to around 245, 250 pounds, meaning he has to lose another 15, 20 pounds. He estimated it will take him until December.
“Hopefully [return] in December, some time in December,” Lewis said after the fight. “Right now, that’s all I’m focused on, trying to get my weight down.”