Derrick Lewis says fans nearly witnessed one of the most surprising heavyweight debuts in recent UFC history. Before being booked opposite surging contender Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC 324, Lewis revealed the promotion explored a blockbuster crossover matchup with legendary kickboxer Rico Verhoeven.
Speaking on The Beast and the Cowboy podcast, Lewis explained he’s been pushing for a quick turnaround since the summer, believing another fast booking was imminent following his most recent win.
“Sh*t, I’ve been trying to get a fight damn near every month since July,” Lewis said. “The fight ended in 30 seconds. I thought they were going to give me something quick.