Derrick Lewis Says UFC is Paying Him His Desired Fight Purse for the Francis Ngannou Rematch

Dana White has confirmed that ‘The Black Beast’ Derrick Lewis would be next for the UFC’s heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. The title fight will probably take place in August, according to Dana White, though nothing is official at the moment.

Riding a four-fight win streak, with his most recent win coming via a spectacular knockout of Curtis Blaydes, it is hard to argue whether ‘The Black Beast’ deserves the number one contender spot in the biggest division of the UFC.

Yet, with the way things were playing out in the Heavyweight division of the UFC, Lewis seemed unlikely to get the next shot at the ‘Predator’. With Jon ‘Bones’ Jones entering the heavyweight title picture, a tremendous fight between the Light Heavyweight GOAT and the current Heavyweight king was being expected by fight fans worldwide. Yet, it seems to appear that the negotiations between the UFC and Jones have hit a roadblock. Jones hasn’t taken the fight due to inappropriate compensation offered by the UFC.

 Read More: Does Jon Jones Deserve to Be Paid More Than What UFC is Offering?

Dana White not keen on booking Jon Jones

Recently, Dana White announced the UFC’s plans to give Lewis a title shot instead of Jones. “The reality is Derrick Lewis is really the No. 1 contender for the heavyweight championship right now. It doesn’t matter if Jon Jones wants to fight or doesn’t want to fight,” White said in an interview with Jake Asman. Jones hasn’t taken up the fight because of a pay dispute with the UFC.

In a tweet addressing this, Jones said that $8 million would be way less of a compensation for him to take the fight of this magnitude. Lewis then tweeted that he would take the fight for that same amount.

Will the rematch between Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou be any different?

During the media day for UFC 262, which was hosted in Houston, Texas, Lewis’ hometown, the Heavyweight addressed the questions of the media about the fight negotiations with the UFC. He commended Jones for his stand on the fighter pay issue in the UFC. He expressed it has helped him to secure a greater purse for the fight himself.

“I appreciate Jones for all that he be doing. I can take the minimum of $8 million. For $8 million, s***, I can fight tonight for 8 million, for sure. I told my manager my price and told him don’t call me if it ain’t around the price that I told you,” Lewis said during the press address.

‘The Black Beast’ also addressed the fact that the second bout between him and Francis Ngannou can look nothing like their infamous first clash in the octagon. “The rematch can’t look the same. You can’t get any worse than it was. Even if it is one punch extra than the last fight, it got to be better than it was. And I believe it is because we both improve in a lot of areas than we was in the last fight we had.”

With the UFC pushing to book the fight around August, what does the future hold for the Heavyweight division of the UFC? Let us know what you think.

Also Read: ‘My Fault’- Derrick Lewis Takes Ownership of Disappointing First Fight Against Francis Ngannou