UFC Wichita live blog: Derrick Lewis vs. Junior dos Santos

This is the UFC Wichita live blog for the heavyweight fight between Derrick Lewis and Junior dos Santos at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan.

Lewis, a former LFC champion, is looking to get back into the win column after failing in his attempt to win the UFC heavyweight championship from Daniel Cormier at UFC 230 in November. “The Black Beast” previously earned his title shot after ratting off three straight wins over Marcin Tybura, Francis Ngannou and Alexander Volkov.

Dos Santos, a former UFC Champion, is looking to make it three wins in a row after earning a decision over Blagoy Ivanov followed by a violent TKO over Tai Tuivasa.

Check out the UFC Wichita live blog below:

Round 1:

Herb Dean is the third man in the Octagon for this slobberknocker. Dos Santos opens up with a looping overhand right but can only connect with air. Stalking his opponent down, dos Santos attacks the lead leg with seres of kicks before ducking under a hook from Lewis. An inadvertent eye poke from dos Santos momentarily pauses the action.

As soon as the fight picks back up dos Santos looks for the straight right to the body before eating a left kick to the body. After threatening with a jumping knee, Lewis unloads with a straight right, momentarily stunning dos Santos.

Connecting with an overhand right, dos Santos sends Lewis to one knee. Popping back up, Lewis responds with a counter hook to the jaw, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Somehow surviving, dos Santos continues to push forward as Lewis finds himself stuck against the fence as opponent picks continues to attack his left leg. Dos Santos misses with a right-left combo but stuns Lewis with a crippling spinning back kick to the body. Bending over, clutching his midsection, Lewis blasts dos Santos with an overhand right. Eating the shot, dos Santos continues to attack a hobbled Lewis as the clock closes out the round.

MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Dos Santos

Round 2:

Dos Santos is picking up right where he left off as he blocks a left high kick from Lewis. Dos Santos slips and immediately scrambles away from the onslaught of Lewis’ punches. Backing Lewis into the fence, Dos Santos rocks him a combination. With his opponent reeling, Dos Santos swarms in with a flurry of strikes, forcing the referee to stop the fight.

Official result: Junior dos Santos def. Derrick Lewis via TKO (punches) at 1:58 of R2