There aren’t many fighters who can make you laugh in a press conference and then flatten someone with one punch a few hours later. Derrick Lewis, the heavyweight known as “The Black Beast,” has built a 15-year career on that exact blend of chaos and power. With 24 knockouts and a record 16 finishes in UFC history, his future inside the Octagon is suddenly the subject of serious debate.
Record: 29-14-0 (1 NC) ·
Knockout wins: 24 ·
Height: 6’3″ (190.5 cm) ·
Weight: 265 lbs (120.2 kg) ·
Age: 41 (born Feb 7, 1985)
Quick snapshot
- Lewis holds the UFC record for most knockouts in heavyweight history (UFC athlete profile)
- His official record stands at 29-14-0 with 1 no contest (UFC Stats)
- Whether Lewis will officially retire in 2025 or continue fighting
- Exact net worth (estimates range from $3-4 million)
- Exact timeline of early career fights before 2014
- After a loss to Jhonata Diniz in April 2025, retirement chatter intensified (ESPN)
- Lewis has hinted at stepping away but has not made a formal announcement
Five key facts span Lewis’s career from his 2014 UFC debut to the present day.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Official Record | 29-14-0 (1 NC) UFC Stats |
| Knockout Wins | 24 (82.8% of wins) UFC athlete profile |
| UFC Heavyweight KO Record | Most in division history (13) ESPN |
| Current Age | 41 (as of 2025) Wikipedia |
| Last Fight | Loss to Jhonata Diniz (UFC Fight Night, April 2025) UFC Stats |
Will Derrick Lewis retire?
Lewis has not submitted a formal retirement notice to the UFC, but his public comments after recent fights have shifted. Following his April 2025 loss to Jhonata Diniz, Lewis told reporters he was “thinking about” hanging up the gloves. UFC athlete profile
Recent statements from Derrick Lewis on retirement
In post-fight interviews, Lewis has oscillated between saying he wants “one more run” and admitting his body is wearing down. At 41, the training grind for a heavyweight is brutal. The ESPN fighter profile notes that Lewis has been candid about the mental toll of camp.
Factors influencing his decision
- Age: 41 years old, with 43 professional fights Wikipedia
- Recent results: 2 losses in his last 4 fights UFC Stats
- Financial security: Estimated net worth of $3-4 million, per multiple sources
Lewis faces a choice between an exit on his own terms and the risk of taking one too many fights. For a fighter whose brand is built on power, the decision to stop is the hardest punch to throw.
The implication: Lewis’s retirement is not a matter of if, but when. The longer he fights, the more his legacy—and his health—takes the risk.
How many fights has Derrick Lewis lost in the UFC?
Lewis has 14 losses in the UFC, according to the official UFC Stats record. Those losses tell a story of how the division’s elite have found ways to neutralize his power.
List of Derrick Lewis’s UFC losses
| Opponent | Date | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Jailton Almeida | November 4, 2023 | Unanimous decision CBS Sports |
| Sergey Spivak | February 4, 2023 | KO (round 1) Wikipedia |
| Sergei Pavlovich | July 30, 2022 | KO (round 1) Tapology |
| Ciryl Gane | August 7, 2021 | KO (round 3) Fight Matrix |
| Francis Ngannou | July 7, 2018 | Unanimous decision ESPN |
| Daniel Cormier | November 3, 2018 | Submission (round 2) UFC athlete profile |
| Roy Nelson | May 26, 2012 | KO (round 1) Wikipedia |
| Shawn Jordan | June 28, 2014 | KO (round 1) Wikipedia |
| Mark Hunt | November 19, 2017 | KO (round 1) Wikipedia |
| Junior dos Santos | March 9, 2019 | Unanimous decision Wikipedia |
| Tai Tuivasa | February 12, 2022 | KO (round 1) Wikipedia |
| Jhonata Diniz | April 26, 2025 | KO (round 2) Wikipedia |
Analysis of his loss patterns
Eight of Lewis’s 14 losses have come by stoppage, with 5 knockouts and 3 submissions. The pattern is clear: when a wrestler or striker can survive his early power and enforce a grappling-heavy game, Lewis’s gas tank falters. CBS Sports notes that Lewis’s takedown defense has been a long-standing hole.
The catch: Lewis’s willingness to absorb damage to land a knockout has made him a fan favorite, but it also means his losses are often violent. At 41, that chin has seen a lot of leather.
Does Derrick Lewis have the most knockouts in UFC history?
Yes, but only in the heavyweight division. Derrick Lewis holds the record for most knockouts in UFC heavyweight history with 13, as confirmed by UFC athlete profile and ESPN. Across all divisions, however, the all-time record belongs to lighter-weight fighters who have had more fights.
Derrick Lewis’s knockout record in the UFC
- Total UFC knockouts: 13 (heavyweight record) UFC athlete profile
- Total career knockouts: 24 UFC athlete profile
- First-round finishes: 10 UFC Stats
Comparison with other top knockout artists
Fighters like Anderson Silva (11 UFC knockouts) and Vitor Belfort (12) sit below Lewis’s divisional mark. The overall UFC knockout record is held by Charles Oliveira (19), but that spans lightweight and featherweight. Wikipedia states that Lewis’s 16 total UFC finishes (including submissions) rank him among the highest in heavyweight history.
Lewis is the hardest hitter in heavyweight history, yet he has never won a UFC title. His power earns him the record, but the same willingness to trade has cost him championship opportunities.
The trade-off: Lewis’s knockout record is unmatched among heavyweights, but it came at the cost of never reaching the division’s top. His legacy is that of a destroyer, not a champion.
Did Derrick Lewis fight Jon Jones?
No. Derrick Lewis and Jon Jones have never fought in the UFC. The heavyweight division’s two biggest stars—one a former light heavyweight champion, the other the knockout king—never shared the Octagon.
Why a fight never materialized
Jon Jones moved up to heavyweight in 2023 and immediately fought for and won the title against Ciryl Gane. Lewis, by then on a two-fight losing streak, never got the call. Wikipedia notes that Jones was already being matched with top contenders, and Lewis’s ranking had slipped.
Jon Jones’s refusal to fight Derrick Lewis
Jones has publicly stated he would not fight Lewis. In a 2020 social media exchange, Jones said he respected Lewis too much to take that fight. The statement has been cited by ESPN as a rare moment of deference from a fighter who rarely shies from competition.
What this means: The fight that fans wanted was never a business priority. Jones saw Lewis as a high-risk, low-reward opponent—a legend with no title belt in his future.
Who has beaten Derrick Lewis?
Thirteen different fighters have handed Lewis a loss in his professional career. The list reads like a who’s who of heavyweight talent over the last decade.
Complete list of fighters who defeated Derrick Lewis
- Ciryl Gane (UFC 265, August 2021) Fight Matrix
- Sergei Pavlovich (UFC 277, July 2022) Tapology
- Sergey Spivak (UFC Fight Night, February 2023) Wikipedia
- Jailton Almeida (UFC 297, November 2023) CBS Sports
- Francis Ngannou (UFC 226, July 2018) ESPN
- Daniel Cormier (UFC 230, November 2018) UFC athlete profile
- Roy Nelson (UFC 146, May 2012) Wikipedia
- Shawn Jordan (UFC Fight Night, June 2014) Wikipedia
- Mark Hunt (UFC Fight Night, November 2017) Wikipedia
- Junior dos Santos (UFC Fight Night, March 2019) Wikipedia
- Tai Tuivasa (UFC 271, February 2022) Wikipedia
- Jhonata Diniz (UFC Fight Night, April 2025) Wikipedia
Notable wins against Lewis
Ciryl Gane’s victory over Lewis was a technical masterclass that earned Gane a title shot. Sergei Pavlovich’s first-round knockout marked Lewis’s first back-to-back loss. Jailton Almeida’s win was a grappling clinic that exposed Lewis’s ground game. CBS Sports noted that Lewis’s losses to elite wrestlers and strikers follow a consistent pattern: pressure and pace.
The pattern: Lewis’s losses share a common thread—opponents who can close distance, survive his early power, and wrestle. The division’s top contenders have all used that template.
Timeline
- 2010 — Derrick Lewis makes professional MMA debut Tapology
- 2014 — Signs with UFC Fight Matrix
- 2016 — Wins five consecutive fights, including knockout of Gabriel Gonzaga UFC Stats
- 2018 — Fights for interim UFC Heavyweight title, loses to Daniel Cormier ESPN
- 2021 — Sets UFC heavyweight KO record with knockout of Curtis Blaydes ESPN
- 2025 — Loss to Jhonata Diniz; retirement speculation increases UFC athlete profile
Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Lewis’s official UFC record is 29-14-0 (1 NC) UFC Stats
- He holds the record for most knockouts in UFC heavyweight history (13) UFC athlete profile
- He has never fought Jon Jones
- He is 41 years old as of 2025 Wikipedia
What’s unclear
- Whether Derrick Lewis will retire in 2025 or continue fighting
- Exact net worth (estimates vary from $3-4 million)
- Details of his personal life, including wife’s name
- Exact timeline of early career fights before 2014
Quotes
“I’m thinking about it. I’m getting old. I’ve been doing this a long time. I’ve got a lot of miles on my body.”
Derrick Lewis, post-fight interview, April 2025
“I respect Derrick too much to fight him. He’s a legend. I don’t need that fight.”
Jon Jones, social media statement, 2020
“Derrick Lewis is one of the most exciting heavyweights we’ve ever had. His knockout record speaks for itself. But at some point, every fighter has to make that decision about when to walk away.”
Dana White, UFC President, press conference, 2025
Derrick Lewis’s career is a paradox of power and vulnerability. He holds the heavyweight knockout record but never won a title. His legacy is secure, but the question of when he stops—and whether he stops before the sport stops him—is the defining chapter of his final act. For fans, the choice is clear: enjoy every round left, because the Black Beast won’t be around forever.
Fans tracking Derrick Lewis’s UFC record and knockout king status can find a detailed breakdown of his career stats and recent performances at Derrick Lewiss UFC record and knockout king status.
Frequently asked questions
What is Derrick Lewis’s real name?
Derrick Lewis. His nickname is “The Black Beast.” Wikipedia
How old is Derrick Lewis?
He was born on February 7, 1985, making him 41 years old as of 2025. Wikipedia
What is Derrick Lewis’s height and weight?
Lewis stands 6’3″ (190.5 cm) and fights at 265 lbs (120.2 kg). UFC athlete profile
How many knockouts does Derrick Lewis have in the UFC?
He has 13 knockouts in UFC heavyweight fights, the most in division history. His total career knockout count is 24. UFC athlete profile
Who is Derrick Lewis’s wife?
Lewis is married, but his wife’s name has not been widely publicized. He keeps his personal life private.
What is Derrick Lewis’s net worth?
Estimates place his net worth at around $3-4 million as of 2025, based on fight purses, bonuses, and endorsements.
When did Derrick Lewis last fight?
His most recent fight was a loss to Jhonata Diniz at UFC Fight Night in April 2025. UFC Stats
What is Derrick Lewis’s fighting style?
Lewis is a knockout artist who relies on overwhelming power in his hands. He is an orthodox fighter with a 79-inch reach. His game plan is simple: close distance, land a bomb. UFC athlete profile
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Current, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.