Derrick Lewis defeated Roy Nelson by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night 90. It was a clash of styles, and the Las Vegas crowd was not a fan of the scorecards that were read.
Dave Hagen + Glenn Trowbridge, two usually disappointing judges to say the least, come up big with the 29-28 Lewis cards. Blind squirrels.
— Jordan Breen (@jordanbreen) July 8, 2016
We were promised heavy leather, and that’s what we got - from Lewis. He landed more than 50 significant strikes and went for the finish at every opportunity granted to him. Nelson spent the majority of the evening grinding away. He only managed to land four significant strikes over the course of 15 minutes of action.
Nelson officially landed 4 sig. strikes tonight. He's only landed fewer in his fights with Kongo (2) and Herman (2), both quick KOs. #UFC
— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) July 8, 2016
WAS THAT A TOOTH?!?! OH MY GOD THAT IMPACT!!! Great fight between @RoyNelsonMMA & @TheBeast_UFC #UFCVegas https://t.co/p0ah0uEPm6
— #UFCVegas (@ufc) July 8, 2016
Think about those punches Roy Nelson just took from Derrick Lewis. Then think about how hard Mark Hunt must hit to have KO'd that same man.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) July 8, 2016
Nelson was able to score repeated takedowns, but he rarely was able to do anything with them. When Lewis wanted to stand, he stood. There wasn’t too much technique to his stand-ups either. He just did it.
Several times John McCarthy, the referee for the contest, had to separate them from the clinch due to inactivity from Nelson who was trying to wear down the charismatic fighter out of Houston.
The fight could have gone either way, but two of the three judges appeared to like Lewis’ significant striking edge than Nelson’s takedowns.
In the post-fight interview with Jon Anik, Lewis did something that was unexpected when asked who he wanted to fight next. He said Roy Nelson. Lewis explained that he guaranteed a finish, and that’s what he wanted to do in a rematch with the very man he just defeated.
In a stunning development, Lewis asks for a rematch with ... Roy Nelson, who he just beat. Wants a finish next time.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 8, 2016
Derrick Lewis is cursing out the audience. No audience member steps forward to challenge him. #UFC200
— Bleacher Report MMA (@BR_MMA) July 8, 2016
Lewis also berated the booing crowd with explicit language. He said, "It is what it is" and that all Nelson wanted to do was "hug." Typically responding to the crowd with vulgarities will not earn one new fans, but Lewis has a certain charm he brings to the table.
What’s next for both men is up in the air as the heavyweight division continues onward during International Fight Week with Cain Velasquez, Travis Browne, Mark Hunt and, yes, Brock Lesnar. Lewis will not likely get the rematch he asked for and instead will likely fight another top-10 ranked contender. Nelson will have to go back to the drawing board after another setback.
It wasn’t the knock-down, drag-out fight everyone expected, but it had its moments. Lewis picked up the W to continue his ascent up the ranks as one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC today.
