WASHINGTON – Derrick Lewis was the recipient of a special medal – a nod to his 75 clean drug tests under the UFC banner. He praised up and down Wednesday during a special presentation.
Many who were bestowed physical recognition would accept with absolute appreciation and grace, even if they don’t really care about it. As fight fans have learned over his 12-year UFC career, Lewis (29-13 MMA, 20-11 UFC) is truly one-of-a-kind.
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“What the f*ck was that?” Lewis said as he sat down at a UFC Freedom 250 news conference immediately after he received the award. “What was that? Who said I’ve been clean all this time?”
When asked about a comment Sunday’s opponent Josh Hokit made, during which he said he was going to have Lewis abducted by a pack of mimes to do “unspeakable things” to him, Lewis upped the crassness.
“That’s pretty cool,” Lewis said. “I’m a freaky type of dude. So I don’t mind some mimes playing with my booty hole or nothing like that.”
Sunday’s fight will take place at the White House, making it likely the most high-profile and internationally-discussed event ever. While many fighters are pondering how surreal it feels to fight on such a big stage, Lewis has an attachment to the historic building for other reasons.
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“This is the first time seeing the White House other than the movies or something like that,” Lewis said. “I’ve been wanting to come in the White House just to see how it is and do some things like Bill Clinton in there and say that I did it.”
Lewis, 41, is embracing the designation as president Donald Trump’s favorite UFC fighter. Lewis was a late addition to the event, specifically because Trump asked for him to be added. While the two have never met, Lewis said he did speak with Trump on the phone briefly after a fight.
“I tried to talk to him on the phone, but the crowd was so loud after my fight in Tennessee that I couldn’t really hear what he was saying,” Lewis said. “But I did hear his voice. It sounded just like the South Park character.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC White House: Derrick Lewis hilarious as ever before fight
