Lewis Credits Francis Ngannou for His New UFC Contract

Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou may not have put on a memorable fight at UFC 226, but years later, Ngannou’s career moves have indirectly benefited “The Black Beast.” Now preparing to face Jhonata Diniz at UFC Edmonton, Lewis shared that Ngannou’s decision to sign with PFL helped him negotiate a better UFC deal.

“Francis played the role of helping me get this contract that I got right now,” Lewis told MMA Fighting.

Lewis admitted that during negotiations, he referenced Ngannou’s opportunity for “guaranteed big paydays” in PFL. Although he chose to stay with the UFC, the leverage Ngannou created in the MMA landscape worked in Lewis’ favor.

With his new contract in hand, Lewis, who scored a memorable knockout over Marcos Rogerio de Lima at UFC 291, is eager to remain active. “Now they’re trying to space my fights out,” he explained. “I said, ‘No, don’t space them out. Come on, give me them three or four fights.’”

Ngannou recently returned to the cage at PFL Battle of the Giants, securing a first-round knockout against Renan Ferreira. Despite the victory, Ngannou fought with a heavy heart following the tragic loss of his 15-month-old son, Kobe. Lewis, also a father, expressed deep empathy for his former opponent, saying, “To lose a son that early… I’m sure it’s very traumatic.”

Lewis admitted he doesn’t typically watch much MMA outside his own fights, but his coach showed him Ngannou’s performance. “Oh, it was good,” he commented, adding that he heard the pay-per-view event drew only 10,000 buys. “But it’s good [for Francis],” he added, supporting Ngannou’s path forward.

With Ngannou’s influence behind his current success and a clear passion for fighting frequently, Lewis is ready to capitalize on his UFC return against Diniz this Saturday.