At UFC Nashville, heavyweight legend Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis made a spectacular comeback by quickly taking down unbeaten tall prospect Tallison Teixeira via TKO in just 35 seconds. It’s typical Lewis—hard-hitting, erratic, and entertaining—and a stark reminder that he hasn’t slowed down with age.

A Power Blitzkrieg

The battle broke out at the first bell:

Lewis was momentarily surprised by Teixeira’s fast left, which had him massage his eye, but Lewis promptly retaliated with forceful blows.

Teixeira was flushed by a strong left hook, which sent the 6’7″ Brazilian to the ground.

Lewis launched ground-and-pound without hesitation until Round 1 referee Jason Herzog stopped the assault at 0:35.

Lewis becomes the most successful heavyweight finisher in the promotion with this, his 16th UFC knockout.

Controversy & Commentary

Debate was triggered by the stoppage:

Some thought it was premature, as Teixeira attempted to rise .

Referee Herzog was backed by UFC legend Daniel Cormier, who pointed out that Teixeira was clearly out of control since he was illegally grasping the cage to stand.

Safety was underlined by Cormier, who said that the halt was warranted once Lewis launched the bombardment and Teixeira was unable to defend.

The Spectacle of Lewis

Lewis went full showman after the finish:

off his shorts and pretended to urinate in the cage, completing his trademark “ground-and-pound” celebration.

During the event interview, he made an offensive joke about his wife and was embarrassed over a call from former President Trump.

The audience cheered “USA!” in agreement; this was Lewis at his most wild and amusing.

Bigger Picture & Future Path

This decisive victory has significant ramifications:

Lewis is firmly back in the heavyweight mix after a two-fight knockout streak.

Currently ranked around #9, he is consuming opponents while Tom Aspinall holds the crown. Lewis might get a chance to win the gold next, which would be amazing.

He has confounded expectations at the age of 40, showing that charisma and influence endure beyond youth.

Rising competitors like Teixeira are typical Lewis targets since they are large, self-assured, and unproven. They are also tall, strong, and unbeaten. Lewis thrives on chaos and lives for these moments.

Teixeira Still an Exciting Prospect

Teixeira’s story is not ruined by the loss:

In his early UFC matches and on Dana White’s Contender Series, he had swiftly earned a top-15 ranking by knocking out opponents.

He will now undergo a rite of passage and learn from a cruel loss. Regaining momentum can be aided by a rematch with a less dangerous opponent.

The Last Shot

Fans and the division were reminded once more by Derrick Lewis that he remains a threat that anyone wants last. Millions were entertained and his legend was strengthened by his spectacular 35-second TKO of Tallison Teixeira, which brought both brutality and entertainment.

The UFC and its supporters will be there, waiting for the next knockout, the next celebration, the next iconic “Beast” moment, if Lewis moves up the heavyweight ladder.

For fight highlights and post-fight reactions, don’t miss the videos and full coverage from MMA Fighting, Sherdog, and ESPN.