Derrick Lewis Eyeing Fight with Matt Mitrione After Quick Win at ‘TUF 19’ Finale

Derrick Lewis wants to stay busy in the UFC heavyweight division. | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

The 6-foot-3 heavyweight destroyed Carlos Augusto “Guto Inocente” Filho with punches in three and a half minutes, Lewis’ second consecutive first-round knockout inside the Octagon. The “Black Beast” from Houston is unbeaten in his last eight fights, with seven victories coming via stoppage and four inside the opening frame.

Lewis now wants to fight as often as possible, with the goal being a title shot against whomever is the champion at that point in time. The 29-year-old did not hesitate to make his intentions clear in a post-fight interview, and those intentions include a potential matchup with Matt Mitrione. In fact, Lewis prefers that fight to a rematch with a man who beat him back in 2010, Shawn Jordan.

“I feel that’s why the people call me a ‘black beast.’ I would like to fight more opponents, as fast as I can,” Lewis said. “I don’t think Shawn Jordan is going to be around that much longer, and [Mitrione] just knocked him out a couple months ago, so I feel like I am a better matchup.”

Mitrione was supposed to have fought Saturday at UFC 175 in Las Vegas, but his bout with Stefan Struve was canceled when “The Skyscraper” nearly collapsed backstage. With the minimal amount of time Lewis spent in the Octagon against Filho, UFC President Dana White was asked at the post-fight press conference if he could potentially make the fight between Lewis and Mitrione soon.

“Probably,” White said with a smile. “[Lewis] is a scary guy, man.”