At UFC Nashville, heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis added another highlight-reel knockout to his record. His swift victory over Tallison Teixeira immediately sparked debate regarding the timing of the referee`s stoppage. However, former UFC champion and current commentator Daniel Cormier offered a technical justification that clarified the situation.
Facing the undefeated Tallison Teixeira, who stands among the tallest fighters in UFC history, Lewis ended the bout in a mere 35 seconds of the first round. Lewis executed a tactical maneuver, momentarily appearing hurt before landing a clean punch that dropped Teixeira. He followed up with strikes on the ground, prompting the referee to intervene.
Despite the rapid finish, some observers, and Teixeira himself, protested that the stoppage was premature, pointing out that Teixeira managed to get back to his feet shortly after the referee stepped in.
Daniel Cormier`s Technical Defense: The Crucial Cage Grab
Daniel Cormier, providing commentary for the event, strongly disagreed with the assessment of a “bad stoppage.” He highlighted a critical detail often overlooked by those questioning the referee`s decision: Tallison Teixeira illegally grabbed the cage while attempting to stand up.
“That was unbelievable,” Cormier commented during the broadcast. “People saying there was a bad stoppage… Teixeira grabbed the cage to pull himself up.”
Cormier elaborated on the rules implications. Grabbing the cage is a foul. While a referee might typically issue a warning or deduct a point for this infraction, this becomes complicated during a potential fight-ending sequence. A referee cannot pause the action to penalize a fighter if the other fighter is actively pursuing a finish.
Therefore, the illegal act of using the cage to recover or improve position after being dropped provides the referee with a valid, technical reason to stop the fight, especially when combined with the preceding knockdown and follow-up strikes. As Cormier succinctly put it, “You can`t grab the cage to pull yourself up to your feet and then say it was a bad stoppage.” The technical violation solidified the legitimacy of the quick TKO.
True to form, Lewis punctuated his win with his signature brand of post-fight spectacle. After his record-breaking knockout, Lewis engaged in a series of characteristic antics, including the now-familiar removal of his shorts and… well, a direct address to the cageside audience. Demonstrating a unique approach to fighter compensation, Lewis proudly displayed two dollars reportedly received from the crowd for his impromptu display, joking about the perceived market value of such performances.
While the visual of Teixeira regaining his feet fueled immediate debate, the technical infraction of the illegal cage grab, as pointed out by Daniel Cormier, provides the clear justification for the referee`s swift stoppage, adding a layer of technical understanding to Derrick Lewis`s latest, unforgettable victory.
Marcus Bellamy