While it was a battle of ranked heavyweights, the UFC Nashville main event featuring Derrick Lewis and Tallison Teixeira was more about one thing: knockouts.
Lewis, the UFC‘s knockout king, looked to be in the best shape of his career. And for good reason. The former title challenger was taking on a young, undefeated up-and-comer who had never gone outside the opening round.
With Lewis, one way or another, a finish seemed likely, first round or not. Whether it was Teixeira or not.
The U-S-A chant got going before Lewis and the towering Teixeira even met in the middle of the cage in the UFC Nashville main event. When they did come together, Lewis swung wild, kicked wild, missed, and got tagged, which apparently seemed to effect his vision. Lewis appeared to have slipped off the kick attempt and nearly slipped again, but then tagged Teixeira himself with a left hand! Teixeira dropped, and Lewis went all out, unleashing fury, pounding away at Teixeira, who climbed to his feet, but had his back turned, taking even more damage. The ref didn’t like the visual, and waved the fight off as Lewis began celebrating. And what a celebration it was, with his traditional pounding of the canvas, plus miming shooting arrows, adding a D-X crotch chop, and stripping off his shorts. Four celebrations in one for “The Black Beast,” who at age 40 appears as powerful and dangerous as ever.
Lewis also mimed peeing on Teixeira’s corner like a dog, claiming after the fight that though he could not speak Portuguese, he believed his opponent’s corner had been “talking sh*t about me all week.” He then claimed to have received a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump following the fight. With Lewis, who knows. It was another wildly entertaining night for the heavyweight, however.
Official Result: Derrick Lewis def. Tallison Teixeira by TKO, Round 1, 0:35
