Josh Hawkit has announced a collaboration with an American sports betting exchange, clarifying that there is no news regarding Derrick Lewis being pulled from a fight or any bout against Paulo Costa. The partnership will involve behind-the-scenes content with Hawkit throughout fight week. The post specifically debunks rumours about Lewis and Costa that may have been circulating. No further details about the nature of the content or the betting platform were provided in the announcement.
Manager Josh Hawkit has announced a new partnership with a US sports betting exchange, using the announcement to directly address and dismiss rumours that had been circulating online involving two notable UFC fighters.
Hawkit confirmed the collaboration will feature behind-the-scenes content produced during fight week, though no further details about the platform or the specific nature of the content were disclosed. Crucially, the announcement was also used to debunk speculation linking Derrick Lewis to a potential fight withdrawal or a matchup against Paulo Costa — stating clearly that no such news exists.
Derrick Lewis, the heavyweight contender ranked eighth in his division, holds a professional record of 29-14-0. The 41-year-old from the United States trains out of Main Street Boxing and Muay Thai and stands six-foot-three with a 79-inch reach. Lewis has built his reputation as a knockout threat, though his significant strikes landed sit at 2.46 per minute.
Paulo Costa, the Brazilian middleweight ranked 13th in his division, carries a record of 16-4-0. Known by the nickname "The Eraser," the 35-year-old orthodox striker is one of the more prolific volume fighters in the 185-pound weight class, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 58 percent. Costa trains with Team Borracha and holds a six-foot-one frame with a 72-inch reach.
Why it matters
- Rumours linking Lewis and Costa — competitors in entirely different weight classes — appear to have spread enough to warrant a public rebuttal
- Hawkit's clarification may help prevent further misinformation from circulating in the MMA community
- The sportsbook partnership signals growing commercial activity in the fighter management space around live event content
