LAS VEGAS – Derrick Lewis is one of the biggest punchers in the UFC. He’s also arguably the funniest fighter in the game. Both traits were on display Saturday in his dramatic knockout victory over Alexander Volkov on the main card of T-Mobile Arena at UFC 229. With the clock running out, Lewis hit Volkov with a crushing straight right that dropped him. Lewis quickly pounced, landing devastating hammer fists that forced referee Herb Dean to stop it at 4:49. Lewis was having trouble seeing out of his left eye, which was poked early in the fight, and Volkov was landing big shots. Lewis spent much of the third round backing away. Lewis, though, planted his feet when the distance closed and connected on one of his patented rights that sent Volkov down with a thud. The crowd went wild when it was stopped, but it was in for more entertainment. Lewis removed his fight shorts just before UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan went into the ring to interview him. He was holding them when Rogan began the interview by asking him about it. USA in this hoe My balls was hot I need to sick my black ass down and do some cardio This is top 5 post fight interviews ever #UFC229 pic.twitter.com/sHiW9Erhwg — The Man Who Sold The World (@LordBalvin) October 7, 2018 “Derrick, why did you take your shorts off,” Rogan said. “My balls were hot,” Lewis said, deadpan. Rogan nodded and said, “I understand.” After, they discussed the fight and the quick-witted Lewis said he’d received a call from President Trump. “A couple of hours before the fight, Trump called me and told me to knock this [expletive] out and make him look bad,” Lewis said. The crowd roared. It was that kind of night for Lewis, who was coming off a horrid performance in a win over Francis Ngannou at UFC 226 in July that was one of the worst fights in UFC history. Story continues This was filled with back-and-forth action, though Volkov was getting the best of it. Power, though, is the best weapon and Lewis used it to change an imminent loss into a win. Derrick Lewis raises his hand in victory over Alexander Volkov of Russia in their heavyweight bout during the UFC 229 event inside T-Mobile Arena on Oct. 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Getty Images) More UFC 229 coverage from Yahoo Sports: • Kevin Iole: Crazy scene erupts after Khabib submits Conor • Dan Wetzel: Despite ugly scene, UFC will gladly cash in • Khabib says Putin congratulated him after fight • UFC skips ceremony after Khabib’s attack<doc-sep>Former Bellator MMA and M-1 Global Heavyweight champion, Alexander Volkov, made his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) presence known with a fourth round knockout of Fabricio Werdum earlier this year. And “Drago” was eager to build off that signature win at the expense of Derrick Lewis tonight (Sat., Oct. 6, 2018) at UFC 229, which took place inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. He almost had it, but then he suddenly didn’t, thanks to a ridiculous come-from-behind third round knockout at the hard-hitting hands of Lewis. Standing at 6’7,” Volkov towered over Lewis, who is a very big, strong man. Volkov got the action started early, rocking “Black Beast” with a hard shot that had him covering up. Lewis weathered the storm, but Volkov drilled him again and Lewis covered up like he was hurt. Volkov actually stopped his attack and let the referee look at Lewis for some reason before the action restarted. Once it did, Lewis drilled him with a haymaker, but somehow Volkov walked right through it and eventually was able to score a takedown. Lewis tried to get back to his feet, but Volkovsnuck around behind him and took his back. He angled for a rear-naked choke, but was too high, allowing Lewis to reverse position and drop some serious ground-and-pound just as the round came to a close. Lewis eye orbital was treated in the corner between rounds — perhaps it was damaged in that exchange earlier in the match. Volkov came out for the second round pumping a jab before opening up with a heavy combination that forced Lewis to ball up. Lewis shot for a terrible takedown attempt, perhaps trying to avoid further damage to his swollen face. Volkov, though, used it as a target, pinging him stiff jabs as Lewis would fire back with an occasional big shot, hoping to end the bout with one punch. Lewis didn’t offer up much offense at all, perhaps conserving his energy for later in the bout. Volkov continued to stalk Lewis, who hit the Russian with a shot that knocked out his mouthpiece at the bell. Lewis’ corner implored him to finish the fight — he was likely down two rounds on the judges scorecards. But, Lewis just couldn’t pull the trigger. His eye was clearly bothering him — Volkov harassed the area the entire bout — and he appeared that he just didn’t have enough in the tank to take out his much busier and effective Russian counterpart. Then, in a flash, Lewis exploded and rocked Volkov with a series of hellacious punches as the seconds ticked away. Volkov fell to the canvas and Lewis pounced, drilling him with a series of unanswered head bouncers until “Drago” was unconscious. It was an incredible finish — he was 11 seconds away from losing a wide unanimous decision. But, no, “Black Beast” saved his best for last and electrified the sold-out crowd. Pure insanity. For complete UFC 229: “Khabib vs. McGregor” results, including play-by-play updates, click here.<doc-sep>Never count out Derrick Lewis. Not in the opening minute of the fight, not in the middle rounds, and not until the final horn has sounded. “The Black Beast” has earned a fan following in large part due to his string of comeback wins over the years, but he’s never had one quite like his victory over Alexander Volkov on Saturday night at UFC 229. After being battered for the bulk of the fight, appearing exhausted, and suffering an apparent left orbital bone injury early on, Lewis landed one of his trademark ridiculous right hands in the fight’s closing seconds, then followed up on the ground to finish the former Bellator heavyweight champion with just 11 second remaining in the bout. Lewis (21-5, 1 NC) scored his 18th career knockout victory in the heavyweight main card bout at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, his third straight win and ninth in his past 10 fights. “Y’all underestimate me,” Lewis said. “I know I’m not that technical and all that, but I’m getting there.” Volkov set the tone for the bulk of the bout early by landing hard with kicks and right hands. One of them, early in the first round, led to what appeared to be an injury to Lewis’ left orbital bone. This led to an odd scene later in the round in which Volkov volunteered a timeout, only to have referee Herb Dean check Lewis and clear him to continue. Lewis landed with his right hand honest enough to keep Volkov honest and keep him patient. Lewis clearly started to tired by the midpoint of the fight, as Volkov pushed forward and landed often with kicks. Volkov was again patient in the third. He landed a couple of flurries which would have finished most other foes, but Lewis managed to simply cover up and shake it off. But just as it appeared time was running out on a one-sided unanimous decision win, Lewis thrilled the crowd with his finishing flurry. Volkov dropped to 30-7 and had a six-fight win streak snapped. It was his first loss in five UFC fights,<doc-sep>
Derrick Lewis steals win with 20 seconds to go, immediately takes shorts off Heavyweights! This is why Derrick Lewis is one of the most popular fighters in mixed martial arts. Lewis has cultivated quite the following with his social media antics but he's a fighter first and foremost and he displayed incredible heart in his comeback victory over Alexander Volkov on Saturday night. As the T-Mobile Arena ramped up for the lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, Lewis gave fans a bout to remember. After damaging his orbital bone in the first round and coming up short in almost every exchange with Volkov, who was unbeaten in his UFC career going into this weekend, Lewis did something spectacular to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. With 20 seconds remaining and almost certainly looking at a unanimous decision defeat, Lewis uncorked his famous right hand and separated Volkov from his gumshield. DERRICK LEWIS IS BACK!! 😱 The Black Beast KO's Volkov just seconds before the fight ends! What a comeback! What a fight! Listen to that roar! #UFC229 pic.twitter.com/wHzfpav0NG — UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) October 7, 2018 Savage ground and pound from 'The Black Beast' earned him one of the most thrilling wins you're ever going to see in any sport and his post-fight interview didn't disappoint either. "Because my balls were hot," Lewis answered when asked why he took his fight shorts off immediately after the dramatic win. "I told them boys that I've got nothing but heart. They keep underestimating me and, shit, I'm not all that technical and all that but I'm getting there. "I forgot that a few hours before the fight, Donald Trump called me and told me to knock this Russian motherfucker out because they're making him look bad on the news." Lewis was No. 2 in the heavyweight division when he walked to the Octagon on Saturday night and he cannot be all that far away from a title shot following his latest win, although that's not something he's interested in right now. He added: "I need to sit my black ass down and do some more cardio, fuck what you're talking about right now. I ain't trying to fight for no title right now, not with no gas tank like that."