Jeff Smith 
@adminThere has been plenty of speculation as to who was to be the next opponent of newly crowned heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, but it looks like the speculation is over. UFC president Dana White confirmed in an interview on TSN that the fighter to get the first crack at the new champ is Derrick Lewis.
Most people were hoping, and expecting, it was going to be Jon Jones in what was touted as a “Super Fight”, but at the moment negotiations have ground to a halt. Despite the fight between Jones and Ngannou being on hold, their war of words on social media continues.
This will be the second time Ngannou and Lewis meet in the octagon, the first time was a memorable fight but for all the wrong reasons. It has been labeled the worst fight in MMA history, with the two fighters just pretty much standing and staring at each other.
In the three round bout a grand total of 100 strike attempts and only 31 landed, those numbers are the second lowest in MMA history. Lewis won the fight by unanimous decision, but only because he landed 20 of the 31 strikes.
And although Lewis is the #1 heavyweight contender you can understand why White was seemingly hesitant to book this fight. Both fighters have of course shown more since then, with Ngannou knocking out every opponent in the first, and one in the second, rounds since then.
Lewis has had a slightly different road, after losing two fights in a row he has come storming back with four great fights that have put him back in the #1 contender’s spot.
As much talk as there was for Jones (who vacated his light heavyweight title to move a class) to take on Ngannou, the biggest blockade is money. Jones, and Ngannou for that matter, want Connor McGregor like numbers but the UFC are not interested in dishing out that much cash.
And so for now the UFC is moving on, White stating, “We’re working on that fight,” (Ngannou vs Lewis) “That fight is going to happen this summer.”
White does have someone in mind for Jones to fight and that is the former heavyweight champion Miocic Stipe.
On ESPN White said, “I like that he’s [Miocic] fired up and wants to fight again. Listen, we could do Jon and Stipe. Jon’s one of the best to ever do it. If he wants to fight, we’ll get a fight done for him.”
The last time Ngannou and Lewis locked horns, “The Predator” was a huge favorite at -360 to Lewis +185 and the bookies took a bit of beating on that one. So what’s it look like this time around? The same for Ngannou -360, but Lewis is an even bigger underdog at +285.
It is highly unlikely that this fight will be as quiet as the last, but betting the moneyline on Lewis with a round or over/under could net you a handsome return.
