Dana White Reveals How Close Derrick Lewis Is to Tom Aspinall’s Throne After TKO Win

After record-extending 16th career UFC knockout, Derrick Lewis could be very near to title shot; UFC CEO Dana White gave his thoughts on it.

Dana White Reveals How Close Derrick Lewis Is to Tom Aspinall’s Throne After TKO Win

Dana White pitches in on how close Derrick Lewis is to heavyweight title shot (Source: X/IMAGO)

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At the end of June, UFC boss Dana White announced the two-year-long Jon Jones – Tom Aspinall saga had ended. Ex-UFC heavyweight champ ‘Bones’ retired without unifying, which thus got things moving again. In absentia, Aspinall has been an active belt holder anyways, and 265-pound top contenders wants that gold. One of those names making a resurgence is Derrick Lewis.

Aspinall wants to get things going and the UFC heavyweight division is yearning to settle on some top spot contenders, yet Lewis continues to hold his spot. The No.9-ranked fighter makes a good case as a record finisher and bona fide champ material.

‘The Black Beast’ added to the accolades in the headliner of UFC’s Fight Night from Nashville at Bridgestone Arena. Derrick Lewis blitzed the previously undefeated Tallison Teixeira right off the gate and defeated him via TKO in just 35 seconds! Following Lewis’ win, UFC CEO Dana White admitted post-fight that he is but one win away from a proper title shot.

[Can get it soon] …I think that’s the [just] way the heavyweight division has always been, …I mean, these guys don’t have to cut [weight], some of them have to cut but they don’t have to cut a lot, a lot of…[weight]. A fight can turn with one punch, whoever lands that big shot, and they were both trying to land them and he got him, I thought the stoppage was a little fast, you know, but it is what it is.

Dana White during UFC Nashville post-fight backstage fighter interviews

Lewis is currently on a two-fight streak and has bagged 3-1 in his last four bouts. He has contended for the UFC championship on two occasions: first in 2018 when he faced the then-reigning 265-pound champion Daniel Cormier for the undisputed title. Subsequently, he dropped another bid against Ciryl Gane for the interim belt.

While he is 40, the Texas-based heavyweight is a reckoning and at the twilight of his career. This was his 3rd straight headlining spot, and he extended his knockout total to 16 in this main event, the most on UFC leaderboards. For the thrill and finisher-seeking boss Dana White, this could work in his favor.

As seen in previous instances, timing and star-studded power/highlights play big roles in who warrants a title shot. ESPN analyst and Weigh-In Show co-host Chris Weidman billed the time was just right to make a Lewis vs. Aspinall fight. Lewis himself wants it too; if not for just his raw power, one thing working to his favor is his allure, which greatly increased after Saturday’s UFC Nashville event.

Derrick Lewis’ post-fight comments to Donald Trump revealed following victory at UFC Nashville

Lewis bagged back-to-back fights for the first time since besting Aleksei Oleinik in August 2020 and former title challenger Curtis Blaydes in February 2021. ‘The Black Beast’ headlined his third consecutive main event, following his Round 3 finish of Rodrigo Nascimento in May of last year.

Derrick Lewis' momentous post-fight celebrations took a turn this weekend
Derrick Lewis’ momentous post-fight celebrations took a turn this weekend (Source: X)

Yet it’s not these wins or the fact that he packs a punch that make him a fan-favorite, but rather his post-fight antics. Derrick Lewis, UFC’s all-time leader in knockouts, has made a name for himself with his post-victory festivities. After taking on the hulking Teixeira, he added to his signature floor pounding/stripping and mooning rituals.

Then, Lewis got a call from 47th POTUS, Donald Trump, thanks to some in-ring help from Dana White, which stole attention! Lewis later explained his side of the phone call.

[It’s] probably No. 1, in, in..[post-fight moments ranked]…Just because the President had called me. We started talking about business and I told him wait until I get to the White House and we’ll really talk… [anyway] It was pretty cool to have the President talk to me.

Derrick Lewis said during the post-fight backstage fighter interviews

White and Trump will work on a proposed 2026 White House concept PPV lineup; it is something that Lewis want to participate in. White stated that while Trump was unable to attend the event in Nashville in person, he was nevertheless attentive. When Lewis requested that White connect him via telephone, the UFC boss acquiesced for the star.

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