Fight fans back ‘lean and mean’ Derrick Lewis after ‘Black Beast’ dwarfed at UFC Nashville weigh ins: ‘Hot balls all day’

Dan Hiergesell is an expert voice who serves as MMAmania.com's weekend editor, covering mixed martial arts (MMA) for more than 15 years, getting featured on programs such as Countdown to UFC and SiriusXM Fight Club, among others.

Derrick Lewis may be a sizable betting underdog for his main event clash against towering heavyweight prospect Tallison Teixeira tomorrow night (Sat., July 12, 2025) at UFC Nashville LIVE on ESPN/ESPN+ from inside Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., but many fight fans are still rolling with “Black Beast.”

While Lewis is just 2-3 in his last five trips to the Octagon, UFC’s all-time knockout leader is still as dangerous as anyone in the heavyweight division. Add in the fact that Teixeira is taking a huge step up in competition following his UFC debut back in February, and it’s easy to see why fight fans still have belief that “Black Beast” will capture a win this weekend in Nashville.

On Friday, Lewis and Teixeira joined on stage for official weigh ins and one final staredown. Teixeira, who possesses a noticeable height advantage that could play a factor in Saturday’s main event, looked confident in his faceoff with Lewis. Fight fans, however, believe that “Black Beast” won the staredown and will be backing him all the way at UFC Nashville.

Checkout some of the reaction below (via UFC’s X account):

“DL gonna knock that smile right off his face lol.”
“Tallison nervous AF! Don’t blame him.”
“Derrick is about to put that butter on him.”
“This is gonna be too EZ.”
“The beast is not the dude to play with. I think the young fella learns a painful lesson Saturday.”

“Derrick aint playin lets go!!”
“Derrick looks more fit than fat this time. Better cardio? I just hope he can defend a takedown and get up if he is taken down.”
“Tallison better not take Derrick Lewis lightly or he’s gonna be waking up to a “My Balls Was Hot” promo.”
“Lewis is looking lean and mean.”
“Teixeira lost already.”
“The size of Derrick’s fist are ridiculous.”
“Hot balls all day.”
“Texeira gonna drop like a sack of bricks.”

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HEAVY LEATHER! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) crashes Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sat., July 12, 2025, with UFC Nashville. Record-setting knockout artist, Derrick Lewis, collides with undefeated up-and-comer, Tallison Teixeira, in a blistering main event mashup scheduled for five, five-minute rounds. In UFC Nashville’s co-main event, former welterweight title challenger, Stephen Thompson, locks horns with once-beaten Brazilian bruiser, Gabriel Bonfim, with a spot in the welterweight Top 15 up for grabs.

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Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Nashville fight card right here, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 9 p.m. ET (also on ESPN/ESPN+).

To checkout the latest and greatest UFC Nashville: “Lewis vs. Teixeira” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.