Derrick Lewis Could Be The Next Big Thing At Heavyweight
Rising heavyweight Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis has won two bouts with brutal knockouts in 2014, destroying Jack May at UFC on FOX 11 and making a quick turnaround to finish Guto Inocente at July’s TUF 19 Finale. The New Orleans-born Lewis has never been finished, and he’s put away 10 of his 11 wins via knockout.
Yet the jury’s still out on Lewis, as he’s never faced a top-ranked opponent. But if he destroys the experienced Mitrione at UFC Fight Night 50, we’ll know that he’s arrived for good. The UFC heavyweight division is shallow on legit contenders these days, and if Lewis keeps knocking out everyone they set in front of him, he could be fighting for the title by the end of 2015.
Of course, Mitrione can put an end to his hype by using his footwork and striking to teach Lewis a lesson, but “Meathead” has been known to succumb to strikes. That doesn’t bode well against someone like “The Black Beast,” so keep your radar on this rising heavyweight prospect.
