Although Derrick Lewis was cleared to fight by doctors, coach Bob Perez says ‘The Black Beast’ was unable to train for Junior dos Santos due to a crippling knee injury.
Helen Yee of NBC Sports was first to report the injury on Sunday.
Spoke to sources in Derrick Lewis’ camp who tell me Derrick came in w torn meniscus, ACL & MCL from a month ago. Lewis refused to pull from fight. That's why Bob told him to finish after the first round. It wasn't just his stomach. Knee was giving out. What a warrior #UFCWichita
— Helen Yee (@HelenYeeSports) March 10, 2019
Lewis was knocked out in the second round and, rather than credit dos Santos for the win, Perez blamed Lewis’ knee injury for the way things unfolded at UFC Fight Night 146 in Wichita, Kansas.