Heavyweight KO Artist Eyes Tom Aspinall: ‘I’ll Stand With Him’ originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
While the UFC waits to announce the first title defense for its newly promoted undisputed heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, one veteran KO artist is making his case known. And with a fight booked this weekend, his momentum—and message—could come at the perfect time. Though no official challenger has been named yet, there’s growing noise from within the division itself, and it’s coming with power behind it.
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The heavyweight KO artist in question? Derrick Lewis. The Black Beast. The king of walk-off knockouts and meme-worthy one-liners. Whether he’s delivering thunderous right hands or telling Joe Rogan why he took his shorts off, Lewis is appointment viewing every time he steps into the Octagon.
Tom AspinallGetty Images
And now, with the clock ticking on his UFC run, he’s eyeing one last monster opportunity. Ahead of his UFC Nashville main event this Saturday, the longtime contender sat down with MMA Junkie and made his interest in a Tom Aspinall showdown crystal clear:
‘I stand up right there with him. That’d be good to fight him before everything is said and done with. I have a couple fights left on my contract. I would love to finish out my contract… Let him know I need to fight Tom Aspinall for the belt.’
Lewis, who holds the record for most knockouts in UFC history, has shared the cage with a who’s who of heavyweight violence: Francis Ngannou, Curtis Blaydes, Daniel Cormier, and Tai Tuivasa, just to name a few. His raw power, unorthodox rhythm, and crowd-pleasing chaos make him the kind of wildcard that can flip any fight—and any division—on its head.
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Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall has made it known he wants to clean out the top 10 within a year. That’s no small task. But if you’re going to run through the rankings, Lewis is a box you have to check. He’s dangerous, he’s marketable, and he’s still got the kind of pop that can ruin plans and end hype trains.
If Lewis handles business this weekend and grabs the mic with intent, don’t be surprised if that callout rings louder than expected. The Black Beast has nothing to lose—and that makes him one of the most dangerous men in the game.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
