Derrick Lewis vs. Viktor Pesta

Round 1
The heavyweights spend 30 seconds circling and testing the range before Lewis shoots on Pesta’s legs and rushes him to the ground. Pesta gets right back to his feet and holds Lewis in a clinch on the fence before returning the favor with a trip takedown. Straight to side control goes Pesta, elbowing Lewis’ face from the left with the cage a foot away on Lewis’ right. Lewis is trying to wrap up from underneath, not trying to escape from the position as Pesta knees his ribs. Suddenly, Lewis rolls right and powers back to his feet, then tries to hurl Pesta to the ground with an underhook. Pesta easily reverses and trips the “Black Beast” back to the base of the fence. Lewis uses a kimura from underneath to work back to his feet, but Pesta is tenacious and won’t let him off the fence. Down to the final 90 seconds of the frame as Pesta hits his third trip takedown of the round. Lewis works back to his feet again, Pesta clinging to his waist. The Czech fighter takes a glance up at the clock as he wraps up Lewis and rides out the last half minute.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Pesta
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Pesta
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Pesta

Round 2
The round begins slowly, like the first, but this time it’s Pesta who shoots for a takedown. Lewis fends it off for 30 seconds with his back to the fence until Pesta finds his second effort and succeeds in flooring the American. Lewis keeps his opponent in guard as they hit the mat, and both big men swing heavy, if ineffectual punches as they scoot around the cage. With no progress being made on the ground, referee Kerry Hatley brings the heavyweights back to their feet with half the round remaining. Lewis tries to blitz and instead has the momentum turned back on him for another Pesta takedown. Both men look tired but Pesta looks exhausted as he tries to hold Lewis on the ground. Lewis won’t be held down this time, and he breaks away from Pesta’s tired clinch on the feet soon after. Pesta eats a right hand from Lewis, grabs for his legs but can’t find the takedown. Lewis stuffs him to the mat and smashes Pesta’s face with hammerfists as the final 20 seconds tick down. Referee Hatley looks poised to intervene when Pesta is saved by the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Lewis
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Lewis
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Lewis

Round 3
Lewis takes the center as the heavyweights baby-step around the cage. Pesta tries to circle away and gets caught near the cage with a Lewis right hand. Lewis shuts down a takedown attempt and forces Pesta to the ground, then stands over the Czech fighter and tries to shuck his legs. Lewis steps into full mount and begins unloading with both fists, smashing through Pesta’s mitts with a few particularly brutal right hands. With Pesta simply covering up and not fighting back, referee Hatley steps in and stops the bout.

The Official Result
Derrick Lewis def. Viktor Pesta via TKO (Punches) R3 1:15