The weigh-ins for UFC Nashville delivered a notable moment this Friday, centered around heavyweight veteran Derrick Lewis, widely known as `The Black Beast`. As fighters hit the scales ahead of Saturday`s event, Lewis presented a surprising number that immediately caught attention.
For his main event bout against Tallison Teixeira, Lewis officially weighed in at 261 pounds. While still a substantial figure (as expected in the heavyweight division), this marks a significant personal milestone for Lewis: it is his lowest weigh-in weight in 11 years.
This weight is particularly interesting for `The Black Beast`, who often weighs closer to the 266-pound divisional limit and has publicly discussed the challenges of managing his weight. To put this into perspective, his UFC debut weight back in April 2014 was 256 pounds, meaning he is now just 5 pounds heavier than when he first stepped into the Octagon over a decade ago. Since that debut, his lowest recorded weight was 261.5 pounds in February 2020.
His opponent, the imposing Tallison Teixeira, who possesses considerable height in the division, also successfully made weight, coming in slightly lighter than Lewis at 259 pounds.
With both fighters cleared, the UFC Nashville main event is officially set, pitting a combined 520 pounds of heavyweight power against each other in the Octagon.
What does this lower weight signify for the heavyweight knockout king? Is it a strategic move aimed at improving speed or endurance? A result of a particularly focused training camp? Or perhaps, just a less burrito-filled fight week than usual? Whatever the underlying reason, seeing Lewis step onto the scale noticeably lighter than his recent norm adds an intriguing dynamic to his performance outlook. Lewis, of course, needs no introduction when it comes to power; he holds the undisputed UFC record with 15 knockouts, a testament to his fight-ending capabilities regardless of the exact number on the scale.
The stage is now perfectly set in Nashville for a compelling heavyweight clash. Fans are eager to see how this potentially lighter, decade-low version of `The Black Beast` performs against the dangerous Teixeira. The anticipation builds as the 520-pound question awaits its answer when the cage door closes on Saturday night.
