5 reasons why Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa will steal the show at UFC 271

This weekend sees UFC 271 go down in Houston, Texas. In the main event, Israel Adesanya defends his middleweight crown against former champion Robert Whittaker

All eyes will be on the main event at UFC 271, but the fight that may well steal the show is the co-headline bout between Tai Tuivasa and Derrick Lewis.

These two knockout artists are set to face off in a key heavyweight clash. While the two men aren’t expected to throw any verbal barbs at one another in the lead-up to their fight, fireworks should ensue inside the octagon when they meet.

Here are five reasons why Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa will steal the show at UFC 271.

#5. Derrick Lewis holds the UFC’s record for the most knockouts

Very few fighters can claim to be must-see attractions every time they step into the octagon, but Derrick Lewis is definitely amongst them. Sure, ‘The Black Beast’ has come up short both times he’s fought for gold, but he does hold a significant record of his own.

Lewis has knocked out no fewer than 13 foes inside the octagon, more than any other fighter in the promotion’s history. When you consider the never-ending list of knockout artists who have graced the octagon over the years, that’s pretty impressive.

DERRICK LEWIS, THE KNOCKOUT KING!

@TheBeast_UFC with the most knockouts in UFC HISTORY! #UFCVegas45

DERRICK LEWIS, THE KNOCKOUT KING! ????@TheBeast_UFC with the most knockouts in UFC HISTORY! #UFCVegas45 https://t.co/Y5bBmNx98t

It isn’t like Lewis has been knocking out scrubs, either. Some of his victims count amongst the best UFC heavyweights of their generation, including the likes of Curtis Blaydes, Alexander Volkov and Aleksei Oleinik.

It’s true that ‘The Black Beast’ has had the odd stinker of a fight during his tenure with the promotion too. His clash with Francis Ngannou, for instance, was terrible, and nobody really enjoyed his wins over Blagoy Ivanov and Ilir Latifi either.

For the most part, though, whatever Lewis hits, he destroys. That makes it impossible to take your eyes off him when he’s fighting.

‘The Black Beast’ practically stole the show at one of the biggest events of all time, UFC 229, with his comeback win over Alexander Volkov. There’s every chance he can do the same against Tai Tuivasa this weekend.