Dana White: Derrick Lewis not going anywhere despite recent losing skid
This past weekend’s UFC Vegas 68 event saw former heavyweight title challenger Derrick Lewis drop to 1-4 in his last five fights and on a current three-fight skid following his first-round loss to Serghei Spivac. It was a one-sided contest that saw Spivac use his wrestling to wear down Lewis and in doing so, he was able to lock in an arm-triangle first-round submission victory.
During his three-fight losing streak, Derrick Lewis has been finished in all three of those fights, two of which happened in the first round. The UFC’s all-time knockout leader is one of the most charismatic and most popular fighters in the promotion but as he’s about to turn 38-years old, there are certainly reasons to doubt his future with the UFC.
Speaking to the media following the event on Saturday night, UFC President Dana White put a halt to any speculation that his recent skid would mean that Derrick Lewis could be let go from the UFC roster. In his post-event press conference, White complimented Spivac, saying his win over Lewis was a big statement in the heavyweight division.
Derrick Lewis is "not going anywhere" from UFC despite being "manhandled" in his 3rd straight loss, says Dana White.#UFCVegas68 | Full video: https://t.co/2u3s1KYodd pic.twitter.com/fSczFtRlwl
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) February 5, 2023
“I have a lot of respect for Derrick Lewis, I love the guy, he got manhandled tonight. Spivac looked really good, he made a big statement tonight.”
After noting how loved Derrick Lewis is among fans, fighters, and everyone around, White added that he also has love for Lewis and that his stock hasn’t been hurt despite his recent losses.
“Not with me. I love the guy, so, he’s not going anywhere.”
With the promotion not ready to move on from Derrick Lewis just yet, it’ll be interesting to see what they decide to do when he returns to action. Heading into the fight he was ranked 7th in the heavyweight division, but following his third consecutive loss, he could find himself outside the top-15 rankings.
For fans of Derrick Lewis, it seems he’ll be sticking around for at least the immediate future, but a fourth-consecutive loss could change things.
