Derrick Lewis defeated Marcos Rogerio de Lima in 33 seconds at UFC 291, snapping a career-worst three-fight losing streak and marking the end of his current contract as he hopes to re-sign with the UFC.
Derrick Lewis has emerged victorious yet again, putting him back on winning terms. If all goes well, Lewis is expected to return to the UFC octagon soon. His return to the winner’s circle was marked by a spectacular victory over Marcos Rogerio de Lima at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City. Launching into the bout with an impressive flying knee, Lewis took only 33 seconds to defeat his opponent, putting him away with some ground-and-pound.
The victory was a positive step for Lewis, ending his losing streak of three consecutive fights. It was also a high point segue into free agency, given that UFC 291 signified the conclusion of his ongoing contract. The news was unfolded by him during his post-fight press conference.
It was during the conference that the evening’s victor confessed to feeling the pressure up until the Saturday’s fight. He openly expressed the weight of his expectations clearly, stating, “The win means a lot to me. I had a lot of pressure that was on me coming into this fight. I just wanted to prove to everyone that I’m still one of the best fighters in the world.” Lewis has held a steady position in the UFC heavyweight division since 2014 when his most recent attempt at the interim championship ended in a loss at UFC 265, followed by a few more losses.
Despite the pressure, the 38-year-old rededicated himself, gearing up specifically for the matchup against de Lima. When asked to elaborate on the pressures he faced, Lewis explained that the pressure stemmed from himself. “Pressure I put on myself. I finally did everything right, I trained my ass off for 11 weeks straight. I didn’t drink any sodas; that’s probably one of the keys to me getting a little six-pack”, he explained. As for his future, Lewis sees himself in the title race and aspires to continue his partnership with UFC, although he didn’t shy away from expressing his feelings towards the media in a light-hearted manner.