Derrick Lewis didn’t just win in 35 seconds, he stole the show, crushed the hype, and gave fans a classic “Black Beast” moment. He didn’t waste time, Derrick Lewis Flattens Teixeira in Just 35 Seconds at UFC Nashville.
The UFC made its highly anticipated return to Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Saturday July 12 2025, where fans packed the house to witness a heavyweight headliner between fan-favorite Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis and undefeated Brazilian rising star Tallison Teixeira in the main event.
Derrick Lewis returns to the octagon for the first time in 14 months to face undefeated finisher Tallison Teixeira. Derrick Lewis is more than just a fan-favorite, he’s a walking highlight reel and the holder of the most knockouts in UFC history. With a larger-than-life personality, brutal power and unpredictable post-fight antics, Lewis has carved out a legendary career in the UFC heavyweight division.
Despite being 40 years old, the Houston native has shown no signs of slowing down. In the main event of UFC St. Louis in May 2024, Derrick Lewis stopped Rodrigo Nascimento via TKO in the third round securing his 15th UFC knockout and taking the all-time lead in UFC KO record .
His opponent, Tallison Teixeira, the 27-year-old Brazilian prospect entered UFC Nashville to make a statement. Teixeira made quick work of his debut opponent Justin Tafa at UFC 312 and getting the win in just 35 seconds. He entered the octagon to make a statement again with a professional record of 8-0.
His UFC debut at UFC 312 was nothing short of explosive, he knocked out Justin Tafa in just 30 seconds with a violent standing elbow that left commentators , including Daniel Cormier stunned. That Performance of the Night bonus turned him into an instant fan-favorite and landed him in the top 15 UFC heavyweight rankings. Known for his finishing instincts and aggressive style entered the octagon on Saturday to give a performance fans won’t forget so soon
Both fighters touched gloves at the beginning of the fight. The bout opened with a tense energy. Teixeira clipped Lewis with a glancing jab to the eye, which seemed to wake the beast. Seconds later, Lewis answered with a vicious left hook that sent Teixeira crashing to the canvas. Teixeira crashed to the canvas and Lewis just unloaded a barrage of shots trying to get him out of there. As the assault continued, Texeira used the cage to pull himself up again and Lewis just kept hammering him with punches until referee Jason Herzog decided to stop the fight. The end came just 35 seconds into the opening round.
35 seconds was all Lewis needed to extend his UFC record to 16 knockouts. In Derrick Lewis fashion while celebrating, he took off his shorts, tossing his athletic cup into the crowd and motioning like he was going to the bathroom in his opponent’s corner and had the crowd roaring. To top it all off, he answered a live phone call from President Donald Trump. The fans in Bridgestone Arena didn’t just get a knockout, they got a full Derrick Lewis experience.
After the call, Lewis delivered another memorable post-fight interview.
“USA in this ho, f*ck what they’re talking about,” Lewis said after speaking to the president.“ ‘They’ve been talking shit all week. I can’t speak Portuguese but I know they were talking shit about me. F*ck them. That’s a ho ass move right there. I know he was hurt. I just knew he been fighting tomato cans his whole career. I need some more of them taxi cab drivers from Brazil for my next fight.”
When it was time to actually talk about what comes next, Lewis decided on a slightly different opponent than someone from the top 15 in the UFC. “I’ve been gone for two weeks so I want my wife next,” Lewis said drawing a roar from the crowd. “It’s going to be a lot of ground and pound.”
Derrick Lewis didn’t just win, he reminded everyone why he’s still must-see TV. At 40, he’s finishing younger, hungrier fighters like it’s nothing. No slow start, no problem, just one clean punch and chaos. Teixeira may be the future, but on this night, the present still belongs to The Black Beast. Sixteen knockouts deep, Lewis is far from done, and the division knows it.
