- Michael Bisping and Anthony Smith suggested Derrick Lewis to be Deontay Wilder’s UFC debut opponent
- “The Bronze Bomber” is hinting at a move to UFC but currently booked for a boxing match
After Deontay Wilder expressed his interest in coming into the UFC, Michael Bisping and Anthony Smith weighed in on his potential debut opponent. Upon looking at the current heavyweight rankings, the pair agreed in unison that Wilder should face Derrick Lewis.
It’s a main event-type of fight
Discussing the subject on his Believe You Me podcast, Bisping quickly realized that Lewis vs. Wilder makes sense as he is certain there is no way “The Bronze Bomber” is facing a current champion or anybody above the No. 10 contender.
“I’m just going to look at the rankings right now…. it ain’t going to be Tom Aspinall or Jon Jones right we know that. Let’s forget about the top 10 because that’s just nonsense so from 10 to 15, it’s [Marcin] Tybura, Derrick Lewis, Oh God! Derek Lewis-Deontay Wilder. There it is!,” Bisping yelled.
“There it is. We just booked it,” Smith agreed.
Bisping added that as far as fan base goes, “The Black Beast” fits the bill.
“If he’s gonna fight at heavyweight, that’s the one,” he added. “That’s the fight because that’s got main event written all over it, that’s got Fight Night: Saudi Arabia written all over it, or Fight Night in wherever, you know what I mean that is the one Derrick Lewis-Deontay Wilder. I’ll be honest. Take my money right now.”
There could be some negotiations going on
Wilder has evidently been forging a connection with the UFC high-ups. The way Bisping sees it, it wouldn’t be a surprise if there had been some negotiations about a showdown with Lewis going on at this point.
“Derrick is on a fat paycheck these days, they want him in big fights. Deontay Wilder, we know Dana has always been a fan of boxing, you see Deontay Wilder often at the Apex and the UFC fights so I’m sure there’s been a lot of discussions happening. I’m sure he’s not talking out of his a**, I’m sure this is definitely something that is in the works and there’s been contractual negotiations and discussions,” Bisping concluded.
Stating the obvious, Wilder joining the UFC will send shockwaves across the MMA world. It is expected that more names will be thrown in there.
As it stands, Nate Diaz has verbally agreed to face Wilder in an MMA fight. But amid the links to a move to MMA, Wilder is currently booked for a boxing match with Joseph Parker.
Check out Bisping and Smith’s full podcast below:
