UFC: Derrick Lewis wants to fight Francis Ngannou in 2018

UFC Heavyweight Derrick Lewis is already planning for his next fight.

Fresh off a third-round knockout victory over Marcin Tybura, fan favourite Derrick Lewis has set his sights on fighting fellow knockout artist Francis Ngannou.

Unlike Lewis, however, Ngannou is coming off a defeat in his previous fight, after being outclassed over 5 rounds by UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 220.

That said, this could be the perfect time for Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou to face off, a sentiment that also echoes with the black beast.

Speaking on the Slip ‘n’ Dip podcast, Lewis had this to say;

Yeah hopefully we can get something done this year man. Hopefully we can get something before he turns 50 on us.

Usually after every fight I tell [the UFC], ‘I would like to fight this guy.’ I try to pick the toughest guys out there. I don’t try to pick anybody that’s behind me, I try to pick everybody that’s ahead of me in the rankings.

So it’s the top five, top six.

I try to pick one of those guys that’s available. I told them Francis, I told them [Alistair] Overeem, even a rematch with Mark [Hunt]. [Curtis] Blaydes. Fabricio [Werdum].

Lewis has had a long-ish standing beef with Ngannou now, with the duo trading barbs over social media for around a year now.

However, while Ngannou has been fast tracked to a Title shot by the UFC, Lewis has endured little more of a topsy-turvy path, getting finished by Mark Hunt before getting back to victorious ways with his finish of Tybura.

Do you think that Francis Ngannou will fight Derrick Lewis in 2018?

Sound off on your thoughts in the comments section below!