This past Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 271, two of the best knockout artists in the heavyweight division went toe-to-toe. The hometown favorite Derrick Lewis (26-9, 1 NC) took on the surging Tai Tuivasa (15-3). Going into the fight, the only thing we knew for sure is that one man was getting stopped.
In the first round, it certainly looked like that man was going to be Tai Tuivasa. Derrick Lewis started out really strong and even mixed in some takedowns against Tuivasa. During one exchange along the fence, Lewis unloaded on Tuivasa and dealt out some shots that would put away most heavyweights.
However, Tuivasa remained in the fight at UFC 271. In the second round, it looked like Lewis once again rocked Tuivasa. The Black Beast went after him, but he couldn’t put him away. During a wild exchange in the second, Tuivasa clipped Lewis and rocked him.
Both men just started trading big shots. Then, Tuivasa pushed Lewis up against the fence and delivered a massive elbow that put Lewis out. Lewis fell face first to the mat and once again suffered defeat in front of his hometown crowd.
What’s next after UFC 271?
It’s hard not to feel for Derrick Lewis after UFC 271. The heavyweight knockout king has had two fights in the last year in front of his home crowd in Houston, Texas. Both times, he’s been stopped. When he’s fought at the APEX in Las Vegas, he’s been untouchable, but Houston has not been kind to him.
So, after suffering a knockout loss to Tuivasa, what’s next for The Black Beast? Well to be honest, I don’t think he drops much after this fight. I think he will get a guy in the middle-range of the top ten. I’m thinking a good next fight for the UFC to book is Lewis against Jairzinho Rozenstruik (12-3).
Rozenstruik is currently scheduled to take on Marcin Tybura at UFC 273 in April. Should he get the win there, a fight with Lewis makes a ton of sense and would be a lot of fun for fans who love striking and knockouts.