Derrick Lewis gave Ilir Latifi an unsuccessful introduction to the heavyweight division on Saturday at UFC 247.
Lewis (23-7 MMA, 14-5 UFC) took another step up the division’s all-time wins list when he beat Latifi (14-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC) by unanimous decision in the heavyweight matchup, which opened the UFC 247 main card from Toyota Center in Houston.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Lewis’ victory over Latifi at UFC 247.
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The #UFC247 main card is LIVE on pay-per-view. The five-fight lineup opens with Houston's own Derrick Lewis (@TheBeast_ufc) against heavyweight newcomer Ilir Latifi (@LatifiMMA).
Play-by-play: https://t.co/1RBB4CcefJ pic.twitter.com/1phn7Gh1PF
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) February 9, 2020
Ilir Latiif out to "Gonna Fly Now (Theme from 'Rocky') by Bill Conti
Derrick Lewis to "Tops Drop" by Fat Pat #UFC247
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) February 9, 2020
#UFC247 Closing Betting Odds:
Ilir Latifi +195
Derrick Lewis -235💵 Live Now -> @ESPN+ #PPV @Jon_Anik @joerogan @DominickCruz @ufc @MMAOddsBreaker #OnTheLine https://t.co/3B4YysLYGL
— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) February 9, 2020
Letssss gooooo Ilir!!!!!
— Alexander Gustafsson (@AlexTheMauler) February 9, 2020
I always hope for at least one takedown in a Derrick Lewis fight purely so we have the pleasure of watching him heave a sigh and then just get up.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) February 9, 2020
A flying @Thebeast_ufc is in the building! #FlyingShit #UFC247
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) February 9, 2020
BLACK BEAST GOT FLYING KNEES?
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 9, 2020
Did Latifi eat a Derrick Lewis flying knee like it was NBD? 😳 #UFC247
— Simon Samano (@SJSamano) February 9, 2020
That trunk, though. pic.twitter.com/EydFBRzIcb
— Suzanne Davis (@SoozieCuzie) February 9, 2020
Derrick Lewis is letting the hands go tonight, goodness. Let's see if about that improved cardio he's talking about … second round coming up.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) February 9, 2020
Lewis operates on that Yoel Romero vibe: fight in spurts. That style has its downsides, but Latifi isn't making him pay. He's defensively just waiting around.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) February 9, 2020
Latifi starting round 2 with another hard kick. Tries to load up on the right. Latifi lands a hard low kick. Lewis iwth his own kicks as Latifi tries to push him back. #UFC247
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) February 9, 2020
You gotta be strong to just toss Derrick Lewis to the ground, man.
— Nick Baldwin (@NickBaldwinMMA) February 9, 2020
Daaamn! Latifi just tossed Lewis like nothing
— Randa Markos (@randamma) February 9, 2020
265lb beast of a human flying through the air fixin to knock a MF out….. oh hell naww 😳😳#UFC247 https://t.co/Xvudp5gKfl
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) February 9, 2020
Hate the referee stand up always. If the guy in bottom wants to get up, he should earn his way up. All these guys train to get off their backs, if the guy chooses to lay down and take punishment instead of working to get up, let him.
— Daniel Rubenstein (@dannyrube) February 9, 2020
19-19. Now the man, the myth, the legend – Third-round Derrick Lewis.
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) February 9, 2020
I got Latifi up 2-0. He's looking good against a Derrick Lewis who appears to be on great form. #UFC247
— Danny Segura (@dannyseguratv) February 9, 2020
Derrick Lewis is really funny and has some memorable finishes and he's also in a lot of terrible terrible fights. #UFC247
— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) February 9, 2020
No man under 300lbs should be allowed to compete in MMA. The sport is objectively better the bigger fighters get.
— The Naked Gambler (@NakedGambling) February 9, 2020
DERRICK LEWIS HITS HIS SIGNATURE MOVE: STANDING UP!!! #UFC247
— Robbie Fox (@RobbieBarstool) February 9, 2020
Lewis is amazing!!! 30-0 for The Black Beast
— E. Casey Leydon (@ekc) February 9, 2020
Mannn Cruz needs to chill TF out with that statement. 3 TDs with ZERO damage. Idc who it is, if you take someone down and do nothing on top, and the other guy lands more significant shots on the feet, he “should” win, pending how much ground control time he has IMHO#UFC247
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) February 9, 2020
MOST HEAVYWEIGHT WINS – UFC History
17 – Andrei Arlovski
16 – Frank Mir
15 – Junior Dos Santos
14 – Derrick Lewis#UFC247— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) February 9, 2020
🗣️ BY UNANIMOUS DECISION!@TheBeast_UFC defends home turf at #UFC247! 🤘 pic.twitter.com/ogdJw2nSj5
— UFC (@ufc) February 9, 2020
#UFC247 results: Derrick Lewis (@TheBeast_ufc) def. Ilir Latifi via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) https://t.co/1RBB4CcefJ pic.twitter.com/gXUtTeLjtC
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) February 9, 2020
Wanna be a baller? @Thebeast_ufc sings and celebrates his way past press row. #UFC247 pic.twitter.com/0Nae9S8x1p
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) February 9, 2020
