One could never imagine a heavyweight who not only occupies the top spot in Ultimate Fighting Championship history for most knockout victories and carries a menacing presence but also reflects congeniality. However, Derrick Lewis is truly a diamond in the rough. The Louisiana native deflects plaudits of a premier knockout artist by adopting the role of the organization’s resident comedian—an instinctual and innate gift. The potent force he carries in his punches coupled with his inadvertent comic sense makes for a mighty pairing that has made Lewis a household name in mixed martial arts.
Having endured four losses in five outings, Lewis will attempt to get back on track when he faces Rodrigo Nascimento in the UFC on ESPN 56 main event this Saturday at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Ahead of Lewis’ forthcoming clash with the Brazilian, here are five things you might not know about him:
1. Life pinned him against the ropes, forcing an unyielding path.
Lewis was the second-eldest of seven siblings raised by a single mother in New Orleans. The deficit of supervision meant trouble soon followed, as he was often involved in street fighting. At 17, he would pick up the boxing gloves and get to training, eventually preparing for his first amateur fight. However, the gym shut down, removing an anchor that perhaps could have kept him out of trouble. Two weeks after high school graduation, Lewis was charged with aggravated assault stemming from a late-night altercation and was placed on probation. Two years later, while attending Kilgore College on a full football scholarship, Lewis violated his probation and was sentenced to five years in prison. He ended up spending the next three and a half years incarcerated in the Central Unit of the Sugar Land Department of Corrections.
2. He showed heroic qualities in a time of need.
Lewis’ selfless acts during Hurricane Harvey’s devastation in Houston revealed his dedication to community service in times of crisis. Deflated by the news that officers could not respond unless it was a life-or-death situation, Lewis stepped up to the plate, rescuing over 100 people from the floodwaters from early morning to late night. He navigated the water-inundated streets in his Chevy truck, pulling stranded people to safety. “Me and my wife were watching the news and we heard that the officers are not going to be going out,” Lewis told ESPN MMA. “The only way they were going to go out is because of a life-or-death situation. I really didn’t like that, so I went out and tried to help as many people as I can. My wife was mad at me because I didn’t eat, but I didn’t care. The time went by so fast.”
3. He can dole out swift justice if the situation calls for it.
Back in May 2021, a since-charged car thief in Houston was ensnared in a confrontational episode with Lewis. Houston Police public information officer Jodi Silva revealed that Lewis said he was returning to his car after a workout when he heard thudding sounds coming from his vehicle. Lewis spotted the later-identified Quinton Wright on the driver's side, allegedly trying to open the door with a screwdriver. Lewis took to Instagram to write about the encounter in a since-deleted post: “Mofo pick right/wrong car to break into.” Lewis posted a picture of the man being put into a police car as well as a video showing the damage to his car, saying “Motherf---er tried to break into my s---.”
4. He realized a childhood dream, along with blessings in abundance.
Hailing from humble beginnings in suboptimal circumstances, Lewis could only dream of the lifestyle that he wanted as a kid. However, situated now as a renowned figure in the UFC, life has come full circle for him. Speaking in an interview with UFC.com, Lewis stated: “From growing up not having anything—wanting stuff and not being able to get those things—now I’m able to get anything I want, buy anything I want, have anything I want and provide my kids with whatever I believe they need. It’s a true blessing, for real. I’ve got to humble myself every day because I know it can still be gone in the blink of an eye.”
5. He found a life partner in every sense.
Lewis married his longtime girlfriend, April, in Honolulu on June. 17, 2017. The pair have been together through thick and thin, and she has witnessed Lewis grow from being a AAA tow truck driver to a future UFC title challenger. She spoke to ESPN MMA in the aftermath of Lewis’ victory over Chris Daukaus: “I just wanted to be supportive of him. It was nice to see him win. I’m very proud of him. We’ve been together 13 years, so I’ve seen him since, you know, he was a AAA truck driver. I am so excited and proud of him to see how far he has gotten in his career.”