Why do Daniel Cormier and Derrick Lewis hate each other? Hilarious UFC 230 beef revealed
UFC 230's main event pits two of the promotion's most-loved fighters against each other.
UFC 230's main event pits two of the promotion's most-loved fighters against each other.
Headlining the UFC's latest trip to Madison Square Garden in New York is a heavyweight title fight between champion Daniel Cormier and Derrick Lewis.
Cormier vs Lewis came together on extremely short notice and only ended up being finalised a little over a month ago.
Unlike its predecessor, UFC 230's headliners don't have a long-standing beef with each other.
UFC 230 Fight Card And Start Time - How to watch UFC 230 online and on TV
That's in stark contrast to the animosity between UFC 229 main eventers Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, a rivalry which resulted in an unsavoury post-fight brawl.
Cormier and Lewis may not hate one another, but there is a discontent from the challenger towards the champion.
But it has nothing to do with any trash talk or out-the-cage antics from Cormier.
In fact, it stems from Cormier disrespecting Lewis' favourite fast-food restaurant, Popeye's.
He disrespect that Popeye's chicken on a commercial
Lewis revealed his issue with Cormier at the final UFC 226 pre-fight press conference in July when a journalist asked him why he had a problem with 'DC'.
"I want to know too," Cormier said in response to the question.
"He disrespect that Popeye's chicken on a commercial," said Lewis before pretending to shake chicken drumsticks in the air.
Lewis' response had the media in attendance and fans watching worldwide in stitches and has replayed millions of times on YouTube.
UFC 230 Results - All the action and reaction from Cormier vs Lewis
Cormier's alleged disrespecting of Popeye's chicken came three years ago at the seventh annual Fighters Only Awards, where he did a parody video of the song 'All About That Bass'.
Cormier hilariously changed the lyrics to, 'I'm all 'bout that cake and chicken' and referenced Popeye's on multiple occasions.
The video still garners plenty of laughs from many in the MMA world. But it's safe to say Lewis isn't one of those amused by the clip.
UFC 230 Fight Card
Daniel Cormier vs Derrick Lewis (heavyweight title fight)
Chris Weidman vs Ronaldo Souza (middleweight bout)
David Branch vs Jared Cannonier (middleweight bout)
Karl Roberson vs Jack Marshman (middleweight bout)
Derrick Brunson vs Israel Adesanya (middleweight bout)
Prelims
Jason Knight vs Jordan Rinaldi (men's featherweight bout)
Sijara Eubanks vs Roxanne Modafferi (women's flyweight bout)
Julie Arce vs Sheymon Moraes (men's featherweight bout)
Ben Sanders vs Lyman Good (welterweight bout)
Fight Pass Prelims
Matt Frevola vs Lando Vannata (lightweight bout)
Shane Burgos vs Kurt Holobaugh (men's featherweight bout)
Brian Kelleher vs Montel Jackson (men's bantamweight bout)
Update: Brian Kelleher vs Montel Jackson has been canceled as Kelleher has fallen ill
Adam Wieczorek vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima (heavyweight bout)