Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis, who blasted his way to No. 2 in the official rankings with a thunderous knockout over Curtis Blaydes, is not going to sit on his ass and wait for a title shot.
“The Black Beast” has bills to pay, which is why he’s open to fighting whoever is available at the moment. A quick scan of the heavyweight Top 5 returns No. 4-ranked Ciryl Gane, fresh off his tepid decision victory over Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
“I don’t know how the UFC wants to build up that Ciryl Gane guy or if they want to get him in there in the mix right away,” Lewis told Joe Rogan. “I started getting tagged in the fight, because they said [Gane vs. Rozenstruik] still wasn’t worse than me and Francis. I’m like, ‘Damn. OK. Shit’.”
Fortunately for Lewis, the undefeated Gane (8-0) is down to throw hands; however, he’s not going to bum rush “The Black Beast” simply because the fans (and promotion president Dana White) want him to put on an exciting fight.
“The people say, ‘Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!’ but I don’t want to do the same game like Curtis Blaydes,” Gane told MMA Junkie. “He doesn’t have a lot of skills, but this guy is fucking dangerous. With one punch, just one punch, he can finish the game and he’s No. 2 in the rankings just with one punch. So yes, this guy is really dangerous.”
Hopefully matchmakers can get this fight going sooner, rather than later.