LAS VEGAS – Derrick Lewis is not happy with the officiating in his past two fights.
The former UFC heavyweight title challenger expressed his discontent with referee Dan Miragliotta, who’s overseen the action in his two most recent outings, fights he lost by stoppage.
Lewis (26-10 MMA, 17-8 UFC), now returning against Serghei Spivac (15-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 218 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, is hoping he gets anyone but Miragliotta in there with him.
“They act like they didn’t see the last fight,” Lewis told reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “They’re going to stop the fight all early and this and that, and they’re like, ‘Oh, I don’t know if Derrick still has it.’ Man, come on. Dan Miragliotta or whatever his name is, he’s got a conspiracy out on me.
“The last two fights I lost, he’s been the ref. And if he’s the ref on this one I’m going to be like, ‘Nah, I don’t want him,’ and they’re still going to try to put him in the cage. When he says, ‘Fighter, are you ready? Fighter, are you ready?,’ I’m going to say, ‘No.’ We’re going to need Herb Dean or somebody up in there.
“He ain’t reffing none of my fights. No offense to him. He’s a great guy, I’m pretty sure, but I don’t want him reffing none of my fights.”
In his most recent bout, Lewis suffered a first-round TKO loss to Sergei Pavlovich last July at UFC 277. Prior to that, he had lost to Tai Tuivasa by second-round KO at UFC 271 in February. Lewis looks to snap the losing skid and put this 1-3 run behind him.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 218.
