No doubt Derrick Lewis outpoints the Francis Ngannou at UFC 226, and it was the bizarre outcome that no one saw coming. Many called the showdown a total disappointment, even ‘The Black Beast’ agrees and candidly opens up at a post-fight press conference that his ‘terrible performance’ set him farther away from a title shot.
Lewis talks issue of his back that he has been dealing throughout his MMA career, which started to seize up during the fight against Ngannou. Derrick recently told MMAJunkie Radio, that he’s heading to Germany to fix his chronic back problem:
“I’ve been dealing with it for years,” Lewis said. “Each fight, I have the same problem. Sometimes, it’s not as bad as it’s been the last couple.”
Lewis plans to seek medical attention from the same team as former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt get his back issues solved, due to that reason last year Cody was forced to withdraw from his title defense against TJ Dillashaw.
“I’m working on it right now as we speak,” Lewis said.
Derrick and Francis are known for their prodigious finishing power, engaged in a sluggish three-round affair at UFC 226, but neither pulled the trigger this time around. Even cage-side UFC commentator Joe Rogan called it the worst heavyweight fight in the history of UFC.
“It’s a win for sure, but it really does feel like a loss,” Lewis said. “I’ve got no kind of relief or satisfaction at all. Usually, a couple of days after the fight, I’m real satisfied. But I still feel tense about the whole situation.
“I looked at him (Ngannou) in his eyes and his face, and it wasn’t even the same guy that I saw at weigh-ins. He looked completely different. His soul had already completely slipped out of his body before he even stepped in the cage.
“I’ve seen that same look in Gabriel Gonzaga’s eyes when he stepped into the octagon with me, that he was already defeated.”
What’s next for Lewis is remain to be seen and has won two straight fights and eight of nine.
