Morning Report: Derrick Lewis is candid about his cardio regimen ahead of Daniel Cormier fight

After knocking out Alexander Volkov in the final seconds at UFC 229, Derrick Lewis became an internet celebrity for taking his pants off inside the octagon and declaring to Joe Rogan that, ‘My balls was hot.’ Shortly afterwards, Lewis told Rogan that he was not ready for a heavyweight title shot because his cardio was still not good enough, but when the UFC came calling with an offer to challenge for the belt against Daniel Cormier at Madison Square Garden, Lewis decided that didn’t matter. Now, “The Black Beast” is getting ready for Cormier in the most Derrick Lewis way possible.

“Right now I’m a 2X. Usually I’m a 3X but I’m slimming down a little bit so I’m a 2X,” Lewis toldThe Rich Eisen Show recently. “I’ve been doing nothing but cardio. Even the sex. 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.”

In recent years, Lewis has built a reputation as one of the most entertaining and colorful characters in the UFC and his contention that sex is a great training tool is sure to only add to that persona. Lewis even went on to dispel the myth that fighters should abstain from sex before bouts.

“Not me,” Lewis said. “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.”

Lewis didn’t have much time to get his cardio in order as his headlining spot at UFC 230 will take place less than a month after his miraculous comeback over Volkov. Fortunately for him, he won’t be facing the best Daniel Cormier ever, as Cormier has admitted that his hand is not “100% healed”and that he is only taking this short-notice fight because the money and because he believes he can beat Derrick Lewis at less than his best. Of course, people have tended to underestimate Lewis to there own peril, as Volkov can now attest to.

“I think Cormier is gonna come out and try to wrestle me, try to get me tired, and try to push the pace,” Lewis said. “I know he might not say that I’m on his level but I think I am and he thinking that I’m not, really. He’s thinking that it’s gonna be an easy fight for him, thinking that I don’t train hard like he does. Just because he’s an Olympic wrestler he’s thinking that it’s gonna be an easy fight for him.”

But it’s hard to argue that Derrick Lewis is an easy fight for anyone. With an overall record of 12-3, Lewis has won 9 of his last 10 fights including back-to-back wins over the highly ranked Volkov and Francis Ngannou in his last two fights. He may not be the classic MMA fighter, but he is undoubtably effective, and though other heavyweights may not see what he brings to the table, Lewis knows there’s more to his game than winging haymakers and getting lucky.

“Of course they would say that [I don’t deserve it], I guess just because my fighting style,” Lewis said. “Everyone else is a mixed martial artist. 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.”

Derrick Lewis challenges Daniel Cormier for the UFC heavyweight championship at UFC 230 on Nov. 3.