Derrick Lewis didn’t just show up to fight at UFC Nashville , he put on a show. In just 35 seconds, the UFC’s all-time knockout leader finished Tallison Teixeira and reminded everyone why he’s still one of the most dangerous men in the heavyweight division.
After dropping Teixeira with a flurry of heavy punches, Lewis celebrated the way only he can, stripping off his shorts for his balls of steels and miming a urination act in his opponent’s corner, throwing his cup into the crowd, mooning the fans, and capping it off with a wild post-fight speech.
“They been talking shit all week, man,” Lewis told Daniel Cormier during his post-fight interview. “Talking shit all week. I can’t speak Portuguese, but I know for sure they was talking shit about me. F*ck ‘em.”
That energy has made Derrick Lewis a fan favorite for years. His antics go hand-in-hand with a knockout résumé that speaks for itself. With his brutal finish over Teixeira, Lewis now holds 16 career KOs in the UFC, extending his own promotional record. He’s tied with Donald Cerrone for the second-most finishes in UFC history.
The ending didn’t come without a bit of controversy. Referee Jason Herzog stepped in as Teixeira tried to get back to his feet, but the Brazilian grabbed the fence with both hands, an illegal move that didn’t sit well with Lewis.
“That’s a ho-ass move right there,” Lewis said. “I know I had his ass hurt.”
Lewis didn’t show much respect for Teixeira’s undefeated record either. The 42-fight veteran made it clear that Teixeira hadn’t faced real competition until Saturday.
“I just knew he’d been fighting tomato cans his whole career, so shit, I appreciate UFC helping your boy out,” he said. “And also I need some more of them taxi cab drivers they got in Brazil for my next fight. I know them boys trying to ride a limo, but shit, they ain’t going to get it on me.”
At the post-fight press conference, Derrick Lewis doubled down on the legitimacy of the stoppage.
“Yes, I expected the ref [to step in],” Lewis said. “The ref should have been stopping it because [Teixeira] went in and out a couple of times before he even started grabbing the cage.”
“I know if I throw anything at anybody, no matter what it is, I know that they’re going to go down,” he added.
Ranked #9 in the division and with three wins in his last four fights, Derrick Lewis continues to stay relevant in the title conversation. He handed Teixeira his first pro loss and made it look easy in front of a roaring crowd at Bridgestone Arena.
Though Lewis is 0-2 in title fights and has suffered one-sided losses to top contenders like Ciryl Gane and Jailton Almeida, his star power hasn’t faded. His knockouts and charisma continue to carry weight. Even UFC veteran and analyst Alan Jouban acknowledged Lewis’ draw.
“Lewis probably has a bigger name value than a Ciryl Gane, who’s probably the guy that we’re thinking that would fight Tom Aspinall next,” Jouban said on the UFC post-show. “But Ciryl Gane, the name value is not quite there…”
With his latest win, Derrick Lewis didn’t just add another knockout to his record, he reminded everyone that whether he’s fighting, celebrating, or trash-talking, he always brings something unforgettable to the octagon.
