Derrick Lewis is one of the UFC’s most dangerous athletes and one that has struck fear into the hearts of his foes. Having racked up a long list of devastating finishes over the years, Lewis has garnered a reputation for being an elite knockout artist. With that said, today we are going to rewind the clock to some of his most brutal handiwork.
For those unaware, Derrick Lewis is a UFC heavyweight mainstay who has been running rampant since his arrival in 2014. Having captured gold at Legacy Fighting Championship, Lewis capped off his UFC debut with a knockout win over Jack May. As it turns out, it would be the first of 14 knockout victories for the ‘Black Beast’, a feat that makes him the record holder for the most KO/TKO wins in UFC history so far.
Not only that but, Derrick Lewis also holds wins over former heavyweight champions like Junior Dos Santos, and Francis Ngannou and is also a two-time title challenger ( 1 interim). Thus, not only is he one of the greatest heavyweights to never hold the title, but Lewis is widely beloved as one of the best comedic treasures the UFC has ever seen.
Owing to some of the most outrageous, obnoxious, and unapologetic moments on the mic, Derrick Lewis is seen as one of the funniest fighters as well. Responsible for one of the most iconic post-fight interviews of all time, Lewis has a knack for being amusing, simply by being who he is. That said, as the following list will prove, Lewis inside and outside the Octagon are two very different people.
Top 5 most vicious Derrick Lewis knockouts
As mentioned previously, Derrick Lewis holds the current record for most KO/TKO finishes in UFC history. A notable feat to say the least, it also means a wide variety array of choices to choose from. Seeing that he has been on the delivering end of some of the most brutal bludgeonings a fighter can receive, let’s check out some of the ones that left a lasting impact on fans and fighters alike.
5. Derrick Lewis vs. Travis Browne
Starting things off we have Derrick Lewis’ fight against Travis Browne. Coming into this one, Lewis was riding a neat 5 fight win streak whilst Browne came in with two losses in his last three. Thus, he was hungry for a win and to prove a point, deployed some of the dirty tactics that he was known for. Trying to subdue the smaller Lewis with his size and strength, Browne soon realized that he would be unable to take his opponent down.
As the fight went on, the expectation of Browne’s impending doom continued to grow. Having grounded his opponent in Round 1, the fans felt that Lewis need just one more opportunity to shut things out. Eventually, that moment arrived a little over midway through Round 2 after Derrick ducked underneath a wild swing from Travis, connecting a huge right to the temple before following up with some more super necessary shots.
4. Derrick Lewis vs. Alexander Volkov
Another one of Derrick Lewis’s most prized accomplishments will be chopping down the gargantuan Alexander Volkov. After edging out a snoozefest against Francis Ngannou, Lewis set things right by delivering a thundering KO of the Russian heavyweight in his next outing. One of the tallest fighters in the UFC at 6 feet 7 inches, it was clear that the task in front of Derrick was not going to be easy.
That said, Round 3 saw the knockout artist land back-to-back one-two’s on the Russian, with the second one nearly sending his mouthpiece flying. Looking back, the sight of the massive Volkov crashing to the canvas was probably one of the most impressive feats of Lewis’ career.
3. Derrick Lewis vs. Chris Daukaus
In one of his most violent finishes yet, Derrick Lewis absolutely shut the lights off of Chris Daukaus’ brain, continuing his rebellious rivalry with the police. Shockingly, one of Lewis’s most latest wins, he absolutely mauled Daukaus before brutally putting him to sleep at UFC Vegas 45.
Smelling blood in the water midway through Round 1, Lewis unloaded everything he had with a relentless flurry on his opponent. After grabbing a hold of his man, Derrick landed a massive knee to the body, before connecting with a couple of huge rights that slumped Chris Daukaus on the side of the cage.
2. Derrick Lewis vs. Curtis Blaydes
Possibly one of his most impressive wins and a career highlight, Derrick Lewis will forever cherish his win against Curtis Blaydes. After getting into one of his tearing win streaks, Lewis met Blaydes in a fight at the very of the division’s rankings. With a potential title shot on the line, the fight had some serious implications behind it.
As a result, Blaydes came in with a point to prove and gave as good as he got. Looking to integrate a wrestling-heavy approach to subdue Lewis, the game plan was clear from his side. In fact, it was perhaps a bit too clear as when Curtis attempted to shoot for another takedown, Derrick caught him with a mean uppercut. In a flash, a stiff Blaydes rolled over before receiving two more clean shots to the chin while unconscious.
1. Derrick Lewis vs. Marcos Rogerio De Lima
Number one on the list happens to be the fastest and most recent win of Derrick Lewis’ career. Coming up against a sizeable threat in De Lima, another fighter with a solid wrestling background. For this fight, Lewis seemingly came in having watched Jorge Masvidal’s iconic 5-second KO of Ben Askren on loop and he immediately shot for a high knee as soon as the bell rang.
Catching De Lima clean on the chin, Derrick swarmed his fallen opponent, landing some more heavy blows before the referee called an end to the fight. What makes this particular finish rank #1 on our list is the sheer surprise that Lewis delivered with his speed and athleticism. Not only that but his flying knee seemingly left poor Marcos only able to eat food through a straw for a considerable amount of time.
Which Derrick Lewis finish is your favorite? Is there any that you feel should have made the list” Leave your thoughts in the comments below.