WICHITA, Kan. – One-time UFC heavyweight title challenger Derrick Lewis still hasn’t gotten over his snoozer of a fight with Francis Ngannou.

The sluggers talked their way into one of the most anticipated fights in the big-man divison’s history last year, only to deliver one of the biggest duds ever in the octagon. Despite what happened, Lewis (21-7 MMA, 12-5 UFC) still wants another go-around with Ngannou (13-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) and won’t consider his career finished without one.

“I would like to fight him again,” Lewis on Wednesday told MMA Junkie in advance of his UFC on ESPN+ 4 headliner against ex-champ Junior Dos Santos. “If he gets to the title, then, yes, I’ll fight him again. I would love to fight him again if he gets the title shot.

“I have to right the wrong. I can’t retire without fighting Francis again – at least get in a good shot on the guy. Goddamn, I wish I would have gotten a good shot on him. We’ll see how this year plays out.”

Lewis, who recently signed a new UFC deal, came out ahead in a three-round fight that disappointed. Both fighters landed a combined total of 31 significant strikes. Lewis blasted his own performance despite a back injury that impeded him during the fight.

“My ass needs to sit down somewhere and learn some more technique or something,” Lewis said before. “I don’t deserve to call anyone out. With a performance like that, I don’t care if he is the No. 1 contender; I shouldn’t be fighting no one, really, with a performance like that.”

The two had exchanged several barbs on social media in the year prior to the fight. Lewis roasted Ngannou about his conditioning after a lopsided loss to now-former champ Stipe Miocic, and Ngannou vowed to shut up Lewis.

Lewis hasn’t let go of the rivalry that drove the fight. And if he’s able to defeat an ex-champ like Ngannou did in his previous performance, there’s hope for his wish to come true.

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