There’s never a dull moment when Derrick Lewis steps inside the cage — and UFC Nashville was no different. Lewis added yet another finish to his résumé with a 35-second TKO win over debuting Brazilian Talisson Teixeira. But the finish? Let’s just say not everyone was clapping.
Teixeira came out composed and even landed what appeared to be either a crisp strike or an accidental eye poke. With no pause from referee Jason Herzog, Lewis unleashed chaos — swarming with punches until Teixeira stumbled and clung to the fence. That’s when Herzog stepped in, calling the fight right as Teixeira was trying to steady himself.
Reactions flew fast. Former UFC welterweight Alan Jouban tweeted, “Horrible time to stop a fight!” Others online argued that while Lewis landed hard, Teixeira may still have been defending — if only barely.
Controversial or not, the win goes in the books. It’s knockout No. 16 in the UFC for Lewis, tying him with Donald Cerrone for third-most finishes in UFC history. Only Jim Miller (17) and Charles Oliveira (20) sit ahead of him — and neither has done it with quite as much heavyweight mayhem.
So where does Lewis go from here? That’s still unclear. But one thing hasn’t changed: the moment he throws the first punch, chaos is usually close behind.
UFC Nashville brought fireworks, but its main event left fans divided. Was it a smart stoppage? Or did Talisson Teixeira deserve just a few more seconds to recover?
