The heavyweight division of the UFC has never been more exciting. With the recent title defense of heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, it goes to prove that you can expect the unexpected. The next most anticipated heavyweight fight post UFC 270 was Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa.

Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa have split open the heavyweight division for entertainment like no other. From Tuivasa’s famous ‘Shoey’ after fights to Lewis’s incredible comedic timings leading up to fights, these things made their clash as one of the most entertaining fights to watch.

Their bout resulted in Tuivasa defeating Lewis via KO in the second round. Following his victory over ‘The Black Beast,’ ‘Bam Bam’ executed the famous ‘Shoey.’

For two heavyweight giants facing off, you would expect some bad blood to exist between them. However, in Lewis’s and Tuivasa’s case, there’s nothing but respect and showmanship between the two. Furthermore, the pair even posed for a picture post their fight at UFC 271.

In that picture, Lewis doesn’t look worse for the wear either; chances are, he went out for an excellent meal at Popeyes (in his words, being his favorite chicken meal).

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‘The Black Beast’ and ‘Bam Bam’: Respect and Sportsmanship in the UFC

Initiating some form of bad blood between fighters seems to be the right formula to rack up the pay-per-views in the fight game. After all, conflicts and arguments are the names of the game. Albeit, mutual respect and sportsmanship are attributes the fans want to see.

Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa was a fight with the classic stand and bang theme of old-school brawlers that traditional fight fans love. Moreover, the press conferences leading up to this fight were just as wholesome as their respect after their fight.

Adhering to purely business standards, the two heavyweight giants kept it strictly in the ring. Everything outside was nothing but a fun time for them as well as the fans.

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What’s next for Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa?

After Tuivasa’s massive win at UFC 271, his ranking boosted from 11th to third, replacing Derrick Lewis’s spot. As entertaining as the heavyweight division is right now, there also seems to be some cloudiness.

The division lacks clarity due to the UFC’s mess with Francis Ngannou’s current contract. Moreover, his knee surgery might sideline him for most of this year.

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With that being said, Cyril Gane, who is coming off a loss against Francis Ngannou, could be an excellent fight for Tuivasa. This gives Tuivasa one more fight before challenging the Cameroonian for the heavyweight title.

As for Lewis, his next fight is up for speculation. He likely might be matched up with a fighter in the top 10 rankings of the heavyweight division. The bottom line is, it’s all speculation, only time will tell.