Derrick Lewis is out of UFC Edmonton after skipping the ceremonial weigh-ins for his return to the octagon.
The hard-hitting heavyweight is one of the biggest fan favorites in the UFC, and was a key selling point of tonight’s Fight Night in Canada. But just hours out from his second fight of the year against the unbeaten Jhonata Diniz, he has been forced out of action.
It follows Lewis skipping last night’s ceremonial weigh-ins, although at the time host Brendan Fitzgerald insisted that he still be okay to fight. He had previously weighed in seemingly comfortably early, but needed all of the 266lb extended heavyweight limit in order to make it.
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Derrick Lewis out of UFC Edmonton due to health issues
In the late hours of last night it was confirmed by promotional officials that Derrick Lewis had suffered an unspecified health issue. As such his fight with Jhonata Diniz was called off, and the Brazilian was unable to be re-booked at such short notice.
The UFC Edmonton show is headlined by former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno against Amir Albazi, with Rose Namajunas taking on Erin Blanchfield in the co-main event. But arguably the most popular star on the show was Lewis, who was looking to build on a knockout win back in May.
He had just defeated Rodrigo Nascimento to continue his streak of the most knockouts in UFC history with 15. However, it has been an up-and-down few years for ‘The Black Beast, who hasn’t been able to put together a multiple-fight winning run since 2021 when he went for interim gold.
Derrick Lewis skipped ceremonial weigh-in for UFC Edmonton
Just hours after making weight officially for the fight, Lewis opted against showing up to the ceremonial weigh-ins for tonight’s fights. At the time, host Brendan Fitzgerald insisted that the fight was still on despite his absence, which was unheard of for a fighter at that level.
Lewis had tipped the scales at 266lb, which is not uncommon, and seemed to have had no issue making the weight despite using every bit of the 1lb allowance for the heavyweight limit. Promotional officials have confirmed that his health issue is not weight cut related.
It’s not the first time that an unspecified health issue has cost Lewis a fight, and it’s a brutal hammer blow for Diniz. The undefeated Brazilian was looking to take the biggest step up of his career to date in competition and name value.
Derrick Lewis had discussed cleaning up his act prior to doomed UFC Edmonton return
Just days prior to the weigh-ins, Lewis had spoken to the media about how he planned to clean up his act. He is as famous for his at times foul-mouthed and comical antics as he is for fighting, but admitted that his infamy had caught up with him during school visits to see his children.
“This year I’ve been trying to spend a lot of time with my kids at school, and they’re in elementary and stuff like that,” he explained. “And so me going to school and the kids ask me about my balls and things like that, it’s just very uncomfortable, man.
“I want to change up everything. I’m not even taking my shorts off no more. I didn’t think about the other kids, the other family’s kids’ watching stuff like that, hearing me talk the way I talk, and me doing stuff I’m doing, so I’m just really trying to clean up my act. Be a class act this weekend, very professional.”