Latest news with #BlackBeast
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Daniel Cormier wouldn't be surprised if Derrick Lewis got UFC title shot vs. Tom Aspinall
Daniel Cormier is throwing Derrick Lewis' name in the UFC heavyweight title mix. Cormier doesn't see too many options for UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall's next title defense after Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) has already beaten top contenders such as Alexander Volkov, Curtis Blaydes, and Sergei Pavlovich. All signs are pointing to Ciryl Gane as Aspinall's next opponent, but after Lewis (29-12 MMA, 20-10 UFC) knocked out Tallison Teixeira in the UFC on ESPN 70 headliner this past Saturday, Cormier doesn't rule out the possibility of "The Black Beast" jumping the line. "Probably could (get a title shot), man, with the way the heavyweight division is right now," Cormier told MMA Junkie of Lewis. "He might get an opportunity. If all things were considered and you just need somebody to put on a show, a person that you know is going to bring the eyes, it's Derrick Lewis. "He really is going to bring more eyes than most in the division right now. Tom Aspinall needs challengers. Chael Sonnen told me that on our show, 'If Ciryl Gane so much as coughs, Derrick Lewis is going to get a title fight.'" Many, including UFC CEO Dana White, thought Lewis' TKO win over Teixeira was an early stoppage. While Cormier doesn't disagree, he gives referee Jason Herzog the benefit of the doubt. "I think (the stoppage) was bad, but when a guy grabs the fence to pull himself up you've got to do something," Cormier said. "You can't reset the position because he's getting finished. I think he made the right decision. We're pretty hard on these officials a lot of times, but I think under those circumstances, he was left with no option."
USA Today
13-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 70 result: Derrick Lewis plays possum, TKOs Tallison Teixeira in 35 seconds
DERRICK LEWIS FAULT 🤯@TheBeast_UFC | #UFCNashville Derrick Lewis keeps racking up knockouts. Lewis (29-12 MMA, 20-10 UFC), the UFC's knockout leader, ended the unbeaten record of Tallison Teixeira quickly. The heavyweight bout served as the main event of UFC on ESPN 70 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. In just 35 seconds, Lewis recorded a TKO over Teixeira (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), after some admitted gamesmanship. Lewis came out offering a jumping switch kick. Teixeira fired in a punch that appeared to hurt Lewis' right eye. After covering up his eye, Lewis kept swinging and dropped Teixeira with a powerful left hand right on the jaw. "The Black Beast" swarmed with follow-up punches until referee Jason Herzog stopped the fight. In typical Lewis fashion, he removed his fight trunks and waved them over his head. He went over to Texeira's corner and "marked his territory" before continuing with the celebration. Then he launched his protective cup into the crowd, and then mooned them, giving Nashville the whole "Black Beast" experience. HERE HE GOES 😅@TheBeast_UFC | #UFCNashville While the official decision was being announced, Lewis had UFC CEO Dana White's cell phone in his hand, allegedly speaking with U.S. president Donald Trump. "U.S.A in this hoe, f*ck what they talkin' about," Lewis told Daniel Cormier during his post-fight interview. Lewis then explained how Teixeira's corner was "talking sh*t" all week, which is why he went over to the corner after the fight. On the UFC Post-fight Show, Lewis admitted he was playing possum by gesturing toward his right eye during the fight in order to draw Teixeira in closer. The UFC's knockout leader has a few sly tricks up his sleeve, along with vicious fight-ending power. With the result, Lewis wins back-to-back fights for the first time since beating Aleksei Oleinik in August 2020 and Curtis Blaydes in February 2021. "The Black Beast" entered his third straight main event following a third-round finish of Rodrigo Nascimento last May, and extended his knockout total to 16, the most in UFC history. On the other side, Teixeira, 25, walks away with his first career loss. In every previous fight, the Brazilian finished every opponent in the first round. However, facing a former title challenger in his second UFC appearance was a bit too much to handle. Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 70 results
