Derrick Lewis announces possible retirement after loss to Mark Hunt: ‘This was probably my last fight’

Derrick Lewis’ run in the UFC might have come to an end.

The heavyweight prospect unexpectedly announced a possible retirement following his technical knockout loss to MMA veteran Mark Hunt at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 110 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Lewis was stopped by Hunt in the fourth round of their main event bout after a being dominated for the majority of the fight. The 32-year-old heavyweight seemed to have trouble moving in the Octagon halfway through his fight with Hunt. When asked by color commentator Brian Stann if Hunt’s leg kicks limited his mobility immediately after the fight in the post-fight interview, Lewis said that it was already an existing injury that was hindering him.

“No, it’s my lower back, not my leg,” Lewis explained. “My leg is good, yeah, it’s just a long-time time injury. I hurt it back in 2011, and it has just been hurting all week.”

Soon after his back comments, Lewis didn’t hesitate to let the world know that he was likely not going to return to the Octagon ever again.

“This was probably my last fight, you know,” Lewis said following up his comments on his nagging injury. “I’m getting married next week, and I don’t like putting my family through all of this so this would be my last fight. Most likely it’s my last fight in the UFC.”

If this is really the end of Lewis’ fighting career, “The Black Beast” would leave the UFC as one of the hottest and few prospects at heavyweight, being ranked sixth in the division. Lewis would also walk away with an impressive professional record of 18-5 and one no-contest, and a 9-3 record in his UFC career. It began back in 2014 at UFC on FOX 11. Lewis holds notable wins over Travis Browne, Roy Nelson, Gabriel Gonzaga, and held the heavyweight title at Legacy FC.