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A Beastly Proposition

The Black Beast might soon mount an invasion of Big Country

After adding a hapless Gabriel Gonzaga to his increasing list of victims on Sunday, Derrick Lewis has eclipsed UFC Superstar Conor McGregor as the fighter with the most number of knockouts to his name since the year 2014.

But unlike the Irishman, who did go to a judges decision once against Max Holloway in 2013, the Black Beast has never gone past the second round in any of his 8 fights in the UFC, be it in 6 of his victories or either of his defeats.

Derrick Lewis may never evolve into a highly technical fighter like Cain Velasquez or Frank Mir, but as far as providing the unpredictable kind of knockout entertainment that only heavyweights can, the Black Beast is certainly cast out of the same mould as a fighter like Roy Nelson.

Clearly a fighter that comes with the intention of knocking his opponent’s block off or willing to go out on his shield trying to do so, the impressive Performance of the Night bonus eliciting knockout of Gabriel Gonzaga should earn Derrick Lewis the shot at ‘Big Country’ that he has been angling for.

With UFC 200 rumoured to play host to the bout if it does get sanctioned, the audience can surely look forward to a rock’em sock’em encounter between two heavyweights with dynamite in their hands.