If the history of Derrick Lewis Fans has learned everything, it is a good chance that the UFC Nashville head event will end in a knockout on Saturday.
After the International Vechtweek and the UFC 317 Pay-per-View, June closed in style, the MMA leader starts his schedule in July with fighting evening in Tennessee.
Headlining will be a collision between Lewis and Tallison Teixeira, because the fan-favorite heavyweight appears on the leadership of an undefeated 6-foot newcomer who only needed 35 seconds to announce his arrival.
Seven of the eight victories of Teixeira came through knockout, but it is safe to say that he will not be the leading KO artist who can be seen in Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.
Lewis has left a trail of unconscious bodies in his wake on the way to a record 15 UFC Knockouts, and these five really showed the power of 'The Black Beast'.
5. Facial plant in Zagreb vs Gabriel Gonzaga
All the first six UFC victories of Lewis came via Knock -Out and the end result on that violent run at the top of the brutality meter.
'The Black Beast' traveled to Europe until that moment for one of its most difficult tests and shares the cage with heavyweight support pillar Gonzaga, best known for his upset Hoofdkick Ko by Mirko Cro Co.
The veteran could not send Lewis to the same fate during the UFC Fight Night 2016 in Zagreb, Croatia. Instead, he was planted by 'The Black Beast' with seconds that were left in the first round after he had returned to the cage.
That night Lewis saw his first version of the night bonus collect, and he has since been collected another four.
4. Brutal soil & pound versus Travis Browne
It can never be said that Lewis has no murderer instinct. Whether they are asleep or stick to consciousness when 'the black beast' sends his opponents down, they can be sure that some ground and pound bombs are on the road.
Travis Browne heard that the hard way at UFC Halifax in 2017, when he became the fifth victim on the six-Fight winning streak of Lewis to fall through knockout.
'Hapa' was turned upside down early in round two, but showed a strong recovery capacity. However, that ended just past three minutes when a cutting hook sent back browne.
The foundation of the basic strike finally released Browne, and he ate another three brutal beats while he was unconscious before referee Mario Yamasaki got between his face and the fists of Lewis.
3. Flying knee of nowhere versus Marcos Rogerio de Lima
When Lewis entered the cage at UFC 291, it is safe to say that not much had an immediate flying knee on their bingo card. But that is exactly what De Ko King has delivered.
Lewis channeled his inner Jorge Masvidal by loading the Lima on Marcos Rogerio with a shock -flying knee directly from the gate.
The surprising representation of athletics has paid off, while 'The Black Beast' dropped his Brazilian enemy before forced a TKO break with a ruthless attack of land attacks.
Lewis continued to celebrate a return to the winning column for the first time in four fights, while the Lima could hardly eat because of the considerable damage to his teeth caused by the flying knee.
2. Comeback for the ages vs Alexander Volkov
No list or discussion about the KO history of Lewis can be complete without this.
Although Lewis is no stranger to fast first round finishes, he has also shown a preference for the results of the arrival. That includes his interruption against Marcin Tybura in early 2018, but that result cannot stick to what followed only eight months later.
In the last minute of Lewis' fight against Alexander Volkov on UFC 229, the Russian drove to a certain victory on the score cards after using his striking bravery to open 'The Black Beast' comfortably.
But with Lewis only one is needed. Late in the day, the resident of New Orleans has a vicious over -hand right to drop Volkov. 'Drago' remained awake briefly, but was postponed by a number of devastating ground and pounds with just 11 seconds.
Lewis made sure that the event would be reminded for more than just the fight after Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor.
1. Uppercut from Hell vs Curtis Blaydes
When it comes to a level of opposition, context and pure destruction, one of Lewis' Ko is above the rest.
After three straight victories, 'The Black Beast' 2021 entered the CUSP to earn another title shot. In his own way, Curtis Blaydes, an eternal competition, whose narrowing wrestling game had led him to four victories on the bouncing, including Volkov.
But when Lewis and Blaydes UFC Vegas headed 19, Power Grappling trumped over.
After Blaydes had imposed his will in the round one and looked out to set up a five -round shutout, Lewis landed an uppercut as a 'razor' shot for a Takedown less than 90 seconds in round two that came out.
An unconscious Blaydes fell stiff on the canvas when Lewis ran a number of hellish follow -up recordings to ensure that there was no back.
It is sufficient to say, that is a fate that Teixeira wants to avoid on July 12.