Derrick Lewis Says Win Over Francis Ngannou Feels Like A Loss

In an interview with MMA Junkie, UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis said that his UFC 226 win over Francis Ngannou feels like a loss as the fight was widely panned. Here are highlights:

On his chronic back problems: “I’ve been dealing with it for years. Each fight, I have the same problem. Sometimes, it’s not as bad as it’s been the last couple.”

On his win over Ngannou: “It’s a win for sure, but it really does feel like a loss. I’ve got no kind of relief or satisfaction at all. Usually, a couple of days after the fight, I’m real satisfied. But I still feel tense about the whole situation.”

On Ngannou saying he let fear control him: “I looked at him in his eyes and his face, and it wasn’t even the same guy that I saw at weigh-ins. He looked completely different. His soul had already completely slipped out of his body before he even stepped in the cage. I’ve seen that same look in Gabriel Gonzaga’s eyes when he stepped into the octagon with me, that he was already defeated.”