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Derrick Lewis defeated UFC's lineal champ in 'worst fight of all time'

Originally posted on MMA on SI | By Mathew Riddle | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 7:30 AM ET

Derrick Lewis has built a reputation for being the top dog for knockouts in the UFC.

'The Black Beast' has dynamite in his fists and the mean demeanor to follow his opponents to the ground to separate them further from consciousness. Of course, with such a style, Lewis's record is littered with tight losses, but one win often flies under the radar.

Back in 2018, Lewis handed a loss to one of MMA's greatest heavyweights in what would be dubbed one of the worst fights of all time...

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Throwback to when Derrick Lewis defeated Francis Ngannou in UFC's biggest anticlimax

What happens when you throw two of MMA's most prolific finishers into the Octagon? Nothing, apparently.

This is what happened when Lewis fought the current UFC lineal champion, Francis Ngannou, in 2018. Ngannou had just fought and lost his first title fight against Stipe Miocic.

'The Predator' would go on to leave the promotion as the champion in 2023, making him the current lineal heavyweight and open-weight UFC champion, a title that dates back to Royce Gracie.

This article first appeared on MMA on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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