UFC 230 Cheat Sheet: Daniel Cormier vs. Derrick Lewis [[UFC News]]

the UFC makes its third-ever trip to Madison Square Garden this weekend, with a heavyweight title fight between two-weight champion Daniel Cormier and Derrick Lewis.

This fight came together quickly, on the heels of Lewis' come-from-behind knockout win against Alexander Volkov at UFC 229 on Oct. 6. It will mark Cormier's first heavyweight title defense, a title he took from Stipe Miocic via first-round knockout in July.

Here's everything you need to know about UFC 230 on Saturday. 

Daniel Cormier (21-1) vs. Derrick Lewis (21-5), Heavyweight championship

Odds: Cormier -650; Lewis +450

Daniel Cormier really seems to be enjoying himself.

As his decorated athletic career heads toward a conclusion next year, Cormier is at the pinnacle of his sport. He carries two UFC championship belts on his shoulders. He's headlining the UFC's annual card at Madison Square Garden, four months after headlining its annual summer card in Las Vegas.

Cormier, who has repeatedly stated he will retire by his 40th birthday in March, is set to do something very few fighters can: leave on his own terms. In a sport where most athletes are essentially forced out the door, it's refreshing to see.

"Isn't it unbelievable it took 10 years?" laughed Cormier, when asked how it feels to prepare to leave a sport, just as his stardom peaks. "Hopefully this rolls into my [post-fighting] career." 

In a way, Cormier's previous fight -- the heavyweight title victory against Miocic -- was about separating himself and his career from Jon Jones. And part of the buildup to this fight has been a celebration of his ability to do that.

A mere 16 months ago, Cormier was coming off a second loss to Jones at UFC 214, and facing the reality those two light heavyweight losses would go a long way in defining his career. But in the time since Jones was stripped of his title due to a failed drug test, Cormier was reinstated as the 205-pound champ and he went on to win the heavyweight belt, something Jones never did.

On Saturday, there is a chance WWE star Brock Lesnar and Jon Jones will be in the building for Cormier's title defense. And if he wins, he could fight either one in a massive event. The choice of whom would presumably be up to him.

And that last part means a lot. Cormier spent years of his career chasing Jones. Even when he first became a champion in 2015, the fact he never beat Jones to do it hung over his head. Sixteen months ago, it would have been inconceivable he'd consider taking another fight if Jones was an option.

But as his career winds down, Cormier doesn't need to chase anybody. They're all coming to him.

"I've done something to the point [Jones] doesn't dictate my path anymore," Cormier said. "The fact I went up to heavyweight as the light heavyweight champ and won the belt, it feels good because, for a long time, that's what people thought he would do." 

Key Stats

• Cormier: 21-1, 1 NC (10-1, 1 NC in UFC); making first protection of UFC heavyweight title 

• Cormier: 10 wins by knockout, four wins by accommodation 

• Cormier: One of five contenders to win titles in two weight classes (one of two to hold belts all the while) 

• Cormier: 14-0 (3-0 UFC) as a heavyweight; +93 strike differential as per FightMetric in three UFC heavyweight battles 

• Cormier: No. 1-positioned heavyweight and the pound-for-pound contender as indicated by ESPN and UFC 

• Lewis: 21-5, 1 NC (12-3 UFC); last battled at UFC 229 on Oct. 6 (28-day cutback on battle night) 

• Lewis: 18 wins by knockout (10 in UFC, tied with Cain Velasquez for most in heavyweight division history) 

• Lewis: 7 wins in the first round (none since April 2016) 

• Lewis: 57 percent takedown protection as per FightMetric (permitted 24 takedowns in 15 UFC battles) 

Battle Breakdown 

Cormier's memorable prevail upon Miocic in July was his first heavyweight appearance in almost five years, yet it delineated all that we'd come to think about him as a heavyweight prior in his vocation. 

Indeed, even against Miocic, one of the littler, speedier heavyweights, Cormier's high pace gave off an impression of being inflicting significant damage late in the first round. Miocic was eased back to the attract a tight trade and he paid for it. Cormier's hand speed is as yet a detectable favorable position in this division, even at age 39. 

Obviously, the potential peril in setting a high pace is that it builds Cormier's time in the line of flame. It's a delightfully successful thing, destroying these heavyweights, however, it can go south in a moment if a solitary error is made. In this battle, the wary course is Cormier's best course. 

Furthermore, the careful course brings Lewis down. Cormier isn't hesitant to hit with anybody and a major piece of his prosperity is that the surges you with data on the feet, which at that point sets up his wrestling. Be that as it may, his wrestling is so prevalent here - and Lewis' solitary way to triumph is ostensibly a big cheese - Cormier may attempt to go straight for the takedown without the standard customs. 

One thing about Lewis, however, he's difficult to hold down. There are minutes in his UFC profession in which he's gotten himself out of appalling spots, essentially by beasting his way up. He basically seats squeezed a 265-pound Roy Nelson off of him. He shrugged Jack May out of a full mount position in his UFC make a big appearance. Lewis is a major body and he's hard to control. He's never battled anybody very like Cormier, however that quality is genuine. 

At last, this one isn't super confused. The manners by which Lewis can win this battle are constrained, and that is reflected in the wagering chances. 

One thing you can't deny Lewis has, be that as it may, is a heart. Also, knockout power. Cormier took this battle without prior warning. Cormier is the better contender and he's excessively brilliant, making it impossible to commit an idiotic error, yet on the off chance that he gets worn out attempting to move Lewis' gigantic edge around, or if Saturday's the day the speed doesn't appear as he approaches his 40th birthday celebration, possibly Lewis has a shot.