UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis may have beaten Marcos Rogerio de Lima at UFC 291, but he did address some health issues that were plaguing him recently.
Prior to his latest victory, Lewis lost three on the bounce: Defeats against Tai Tuivasa, Sergei Pavlovich and Serghei Spivac raised concerns over his form.
THE BIGGEST WIN OF SPIVAC'S CAREER!!
The Polar Bear submits Derrick Lewis in round 1 to close the show at #UFCVegas68 🐻❄️ pic.twitter.com/D1NMlWUFKC
— UFC (@ufc) February 5, 2023
However, it was much more than form. Lewis revealed some health concerns during his weight cut for Spivac, during the media day at UFC 291, which included passing out while trying to make weight, as he felt he ‘actually died.’
Although that may have been the case, the Nevada State Athletic Commission was not told as Lewis competed anyway.
“The Nevada State Athletic Commission Staff and Nevada State Athletic Commission medical team were not made aware of this,” Jeff Mullen (NSAC executive director).
However, Lewis’ following comments suggested that the UFC may have been aware of his blackout: “They (UFC staff) gave me all the stuff I needed to get up and walk out of there.”
Ultimately, Lewis’ performance was not the best as he was stopped in the first round against Spivac. But the issue raises serious concerns over the welfare of fighters. And there is no getting away from that.