Tallison Teixeira’s undefeated streak? Gone — and it didn’t even last a full minute.
Derrick Lewis made a thunderous return to the UFC Octagon Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, handing the 6-foot-7 Brazilian his first career loss in a violent 35-second TKO.
Early on, it looked like Lewis might be in trouble. Teixeira landed a clean shot to the face, and Lewis appeared wobbly, clutching his eye and stumbling backward. But it was all part of the veteran’s plan.
During the post-fight press conference, Lewis explained his eye was fine and that he was trying to draw Teixeira in.
It worked. Lewis rallied instantly, drilling Teixeira with a crushing left hand to the chin that sent him crashing to the mat. From there, Lewis pressed forward, slamming Teixeira into the fence, landing heavy shots, and forcing a lightning-fast stoppage.
Derrick Lewis 🤝 vicious first round knockoutpic.twitter.com/hm3CKP4KYX
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) July 13, 2025
“That was unbelievable,” Daniel Cormier said on the UFC Nashville broadcast.
Still, controversy erupted over the stoppage.
Though Teixeira appeared out cold as he hit the mat, he seemed to regain awareness moments later. As Lewis continued with ground and pound, Teixeira scrambled and used the fence to help pull himself up.
“People saying there was a bad stoppage… Teixeira grabbed the cage to pull himself up,” Cormier added. “Referee needs to take a point. He can’t stop the finish to take the point, so you stop the fight.”
DERRICK LEWIS FAULT 🤯@TheBeast_UFC | #UFCNashville pic.twitter.com/gCsU2fsbfy
— UFC (@ufc) July 13, 2025
And the celebration? Classic Lewis. He tore off his shorts, waved them around the cage, and even briefly mooned the ESPN camera — a signature moment from one of the UFC’s most unpredictable stars.
To cap off his win, he also had a quick call with the President of the United States.
A quick call to the president post TKO win 📞@TheBeast_UFC | #UFCNashville pic.twitter.com/kny9rJDsox
— UFC (@ufc) July 13, 2025
