In MMA, fighters learned quickly the power of the microphone can be a mighty thing.
That power also can be used in ways the industry has termed “cringe”-worthy, and that’s what we see more often than not – prepared zingers that no doubt were practiced in bathroom mirrors dozens of times, but that don’t come out the same after getting smacked in the mouth a bunch of times.
Then there’s Derrick Lewis, who seems to be able to combine the best of all microphone worlds – unfiltered off-the-cuff one-liners, knee-jerk reactions to post-fight questions, and some thought-of-in-advance stuff that oftentimes requires a “Wait, did he just say that?” and a quick rewind.
Ahead of his UFC on ESPN 56 headliner against Rodrigo Nascimento (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), take a look back at some of the best post-fight in-cage interview moments from the UFC career of two-time heavyweight title challenger and unofficial MMA interview Hall of Famer Derrick Lewis (27-12 MMA, 18-10 UFC).
TUF 19 Finale
Derrick Lewis def. Guto Inocente
Date: July 6, 2014
Result: Derrick Lewis def. Guto Inocente via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:30
Interviewer: Jon Anik
Notes: Lewis’ second UFC win, but first post-fight interview … calls out Matt Mitrione, and got him for next fight, but lost … impressed with his results watching on replay … says he wants to run through heavyweight division and ultimately wants then-champion Cain Velasquez … pictures Velasquez every time he trains
UFC 184
Derrick Lewis def. Ruan Potts
Date: Feb. 28, 2015
Result: Derrick Lewis def. Ruan Potts via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 3:18
Interviewer: Joe Rogan
Notes: Lewis’ third UFC win … got back in win column after 41-second loss to Matt Mitrione … first time interviewed by Rogan … gives shout out to rapper Trae the Truth and his wife, April
UFC 192
Derrick Lewis def. Viktor Pesta
Date: Oct. 3, 2015
Result: Derrick Lewis def. Viktor Pesta via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:15
Interviewer: Joe Rogan
Notes: Home fight in Houston for Lewis … says he knows his cardio “ain’t that good,” but “it’s better than his sh*t.”
UFC Fight Night 82
Derrick Lewis def. Damian Grabowski
Date: Feb. 6, 2016
Result: Derrick Lewis def. Damian Grabowski via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:17
Interviewer: Jon Anik
Notes: Happy with return to much quicker “Beast” mode after third-round win in previous fight … says he can’t be “The Beast” if he doesn’t fight like one … doesn’t want to be on prelims anymore
UFC Fight Night 86
Date: April 10, 2016
Result: Derrick Lewis def. Gabriel Gonzaga via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 4:48
Interviewer: Jon Anik
Notes: Lewis fought outside the U.S. for the first time in the co-main event in Zagreb, Croatia … starts to show his now-trademark humor and messes with translator and Anik by asking to have Anik’s English question translated into English
UFC Fight Night 90
Date:
Result: Derrick Lewis def. Roy Nelson via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Interviewer: Jon Anik
Notes: Just third decision of Lewis’ career in 20 fights, and the first he had won … crowd booed him since Nelson is a Las Vegas local … wants rematch with Nelson, promises a finish
UFC Fight Night 102
Date: Dec. 9, 2016
Result: Derrick Lewis def. Shamil Abdurakhimov via TKO (punches) – Round 4, 3:42
Interviewer: Jon Anik
Notes: Lewis’ first UFC main event … calls it “one of my terriblest fights of all-time” … was going to make callout, but “I’m going to sit my ass down” because that it was “some bullsh*t” of a performance
UFC Fight Night 105
Date: Feb. 19, 2017
Result: Derrick Lewis def. Travis Browne via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 3:12
Interviewer: Brian Stann
Notes: Instead of fighting a week earlier at UFC 208, this became a headliner in Halifax, Nova Scotia … Lewis’ first fight in Canada … classic Lewis moment about needing to defecate during the fight … shouts out Canada and his sex life
UFC Fight Night 126
Date: Feb. 18, 2018
Result: Derrick Lewis def. Marcin Tybura via knockout (punches) – Round 3, 2:48
Interviewer: Jimmy Smith
Notes: Austin, not Houston, but still a home Texas fight for Lewis … references Smith’s new UFC home after years in Bellator … talks about his Texas power … shouts out wife April and Trae the Truth, but the wife shout-out is next level
UFC 229
Date: Oct. 6, 2018
Result: Derrick Lewis def. Alexander Volkov via knockout (punches) – Round 3, 4:49
Interviewer: Joe Rogan
Notes: One of the latest stoppages in UFC history … major comeback … heavyweight title eliminator … bonus winner … the infamous pants off “’cause my balls was hot” moment … wants to come to smoke weed Rogan on his podcast
UFC 244
Date: Nov. 2, 2019
Result: Derrick Lewis def. Blagoy Ivanov via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Interviewer: Joe Rogan
Notes: Classic Lewis about an Ivanov “booty hole he has on his chest,” and a raw-dog reference that may have made Rogan cut the interview off early
UFC 247
Date: Feb. 8, 2020
Result: Derrick Lewis def. Ilir Latif via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Interviewer: Joe Rogan
Notes: Home Houston fight for Lewis … tells Rogan it was important, “so I was 24/7 smokin’ weed” like him to prepare … first win in Houston in more than four years
UFC Fight Night 174
Date: Aug. 8, 2020
Result: Derrick Lewis def. Aleksei Oleinik via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 0:21
Interviewer: Paul Felder
Notes: First main event win since Travis Browne in February 2017 … interviewed by Felder in separate locations due to COVID protocols
UFC Fight Night 199
Date: Dec. 18, 2021
Result: Derrick Lewis def. Chris Daukaus via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:36
Interviewer: Michael Bisping
Notes: Lewis’ return to win column after interim title loss … fourth straight main event and ninth overall in UFC
UFC 291
Date: July 29, 2023
Result: Derrick Lewis def. Marcos Rogerio de Lima via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:33
Interviewer: Joe Rogan
Notes: Snapped three-fight skid … took shorts off once again … won eighth post-fight bonus award … extended record for UFC knockouts with 14th
