Derrick Lewis sent a message to all his doubters.
On Saturday, Lewis knocked out Rodrigo Nascimento in the main event of UFC St. Louis. The win was Lewis’s fifteenth knockout in the UFC, extending his own record for most in the promotion’s history, and afterward, “The Black Beast” performed his now customary post-win ritual of taking off his pants. But this time, Lewis added another step to the celebration by also removing his fight-worn cup and chucking it into the crowd — more specifically, throwing it into media row.
Speaking with reporters at the UFC St. Louis post-fight press conference, Lewis revealed that where he threw the cup was very intentional.
“You know, because y’all boys always talking shit,” Lewis said. “Every now and then I’ve got to throw y’all under the bus like y’all do me. ‘Oh, Derrick don’t got it anymore! Blah blah blah!’ Mmhmm.”
Apparently, at least one media member didn’t have any issue with this, as he retrieved the cup, then had it signed by Lewis and UFC CEO Dana White. And per Lewis, he should be fine with that because there’s nothing wrong with his fight equipment.
“Shit, it smells fresh. Baby, my balls don’t stink, right?” Lewis said, addressing his wife in the crowd. “Thank you. Don’t try to stunt.”
Game-worn equipment aside, the win was a big one for Lewis as he retained his spot in the UFC’s heavyweight top 15 and got a win over a rising contender, even if it wasn’t exactly how Lewis drew the fight up in his mind.
“I was really waiting for the fifth round then explode on him, but the opportunity was there,” Lewis said. “He didn’t let me catch my breath, that’s why I had to finish him. I was trying to catch my breath, then wait it out.”
As for what comes next for the two-time UFC heavyweight title challenger, Lewis is keeping his options open. “The Black Beast” has six fights left on his UFC contract and seems content to continue fighting that out, but there is also the possibility of some crossover work with WWE now that it and the UFC are under the same banner.
“That’s what we’re supposed to be doing in a few weeks, maybe,” Lewis said. “Going to Orlando and checking the facility out.
“I wouldn’t stop here in the UFC, but I would like to dibble dab in WWE.”
