SALT LAKE CITY – A scary moment prior to his previous fight had UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis feeling like he was at death’s door.
Health issues have been present over recent years for Lewis (26-11 MMA, 17-9 UFC), but nothing ever occurred like what happened to him before his fight against Serghei Spivac in February at UFC Fight Night 218. At Wednesday’s UFC 291 media day, Lewis revealed he passed out before weigh-ins.
Lewis’ media day sessions in the past have typically been part comedy routine, and this one appeared to begin in a similar fashion, but quickly took a more serious turn when he revealed what occurred in Las Vegas.
“The last few fights I haven’t been healthy, point blank, period,” Lewis told reporters. “The last fight, I actually passed out just before weigh-ins. I blacked out. My coaches had to carry me. … I just didn’t have the energy the rest of the week.”
Lewis attributed the health scare to his weight-cutting routine, which was a last-minute approach that he has since changed. But when it came time to fight against Spivac the next day, he felt he couldn’t move his body properly due to energy depletion, and stopped in the first round by submission.
“What’s been going on is like, I wait three days before weigh-ins, then start trying to cut weight,” Lewis said. “I cut like 25 pounds in three days. Just not eating and drinking water. Probably a little something to eat.”
“The Black Beast” returns to action at UFC 291 to face Marcos Rogerio de Lima (21-8-1 MMA, 10-6 UFC). The heavyweight bout takes place on the prelims Saturday at Delta Center, which airs live on ABC/ESPN.
The moment was a reality check for Lewis that shook his family, his team, and himself. He says he has done things properly ahead of this fight, and is already at the weight he intends to be when he steps on the scale Friday morning.
“It was a big eye-opener,” Lewis said. “It was just always in the back of my head during the fight. Like, I felt like I actually died. I was thinking about all the other fighters that went through something like that, and they blacked out and came back, and they couldn’t fight. They didn’t let the fighter fight. Good thing it happened at the P.I. and they gave me all the stuff I needed to get up and walk up out of there. But it was a very scary moment, though.”
Looking back on the moment, Lewis is disappointed in himself with how everything played out. Spivac was a fight he feels he should have won, and it was a bout that could have snapped a two-fight skid. Unfortunately for Lewis, he couldn’t get things going, and will now look to avoid dropping his fourth bout in a row.
“It really sucks because I know I should have beat that guy,” Lewis said. “I had a lot to prove that fight and I just feel like I let myself down. I just really wanted that back. I feel like right now is a perfect opportunity to fight this guy right here, even though I don’t remember his name. I’m pretty sure after Saturday I’m going to remember his name.”
Beyond just feeling better physically, Lewis said everyone will be able to visually see the difference in his figure, as he shifted back into the jovial heavyweight we’re used to hearing from on the microphone.
“Y’all will for sure see a six pack on me this weekend. For sure. Even after weigh-ins I’m going to have a six pack. If not, y’all can talk sh*t post-fight.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 291.
