Derrick Lewis has knocked out 15 UFC opponents, more than anyone else in the promotion’s history. But when The Black Beast walks into the cage at UFC Nashville, there’s more to notice than just his fists. His body is a canvas of stories, struggles, and symbols.
From tributes to his past to reminders of who he is today, each tattoo on Lewis’s body has meaning. But what do they actually stand for? And why have some of them sparked so much curiosity? Let’s break it down.
How Many Tattoos Does Derrick Lewis Have?
Derrick Lewis has 11 known tattoos, each with its own placement and purpose. Some celebrate who he is. Others remind him where he came from.
Here’s a list of all the tattoos that Lewis exhibits:
‘Crown and Gloves’ Tattoo
‘Knock Out King’ Tattoo
‘Hard Time’ Tattoo
‘LORD KNOWS’ Tattoo
‘LOYALTY’ Tattoo
Owl on Neck
‘RESPECT’ Tattoo
‘Skateboarder’ Tattoo
‘Gorilla’ Tattoos
‘Texan’ Tattoo
‘The Undisplayable Penguin’ Tattoo
Now that we have listed them all out, let’s take a look at the meaning and stories behind the impressive collection of ink!
What do Derrick Lewis’ tattoos mean?
In a GQ Sports interview, Lewis broke down the meaning behind each piece of ink. And while some are light-hearted, others cut deep. Let’s start from the top of the list. The ‘Crown and Gloves’ tattoo can be spotted on the lower central part of his chest, extending just below his chest. The boxing gloves showcase Lewis‘s love for the sport and his fighting spirit. The crown above the gloves signifies that he will fight to victory every time he is bowed down.
The ‘Knockout King’ tattoo is self-explanatory. It’s backed by numbers and by pain. He got it in 2018 after overcoming a rough childhood and earning his place among the best.
The LORD KNOWS ink on the outer part of the UFC heavyweight’s forearms carries dual meaning. On the one hand, it shows Lewis’s faith. On the other? He also said, “Lord knows, of course, just something religious, but um, Lord knows what I would do to you with these hands, ya know. That’s basically what I’m saying”.
Then we come to the ‘Hard Time’ Tattoo, which can be found just below the gloves of Lewis‘ previously mentioned ‘Crown and Gloves’ tattoo. It is probably a memoir of all the hard times that he had been through in his journey of becoming a noted UFC fighter.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 08: Derrick Lewis reacts after his knockout over Aleksei Oleinik of Russia in their heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on August 08, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
The Owl on Lewis‘ neck was actually a Black Beast, which is also his nickname. Many often consider an owl a sign of bad luck. But others, especially tattoo lovers, consider it a symbol of wisdom or knowledge. Lewis also had a similar vision. He stated, “It used to be a black beast right here. I got it covered up, and put the owl there. Cause I’m more of a wise man than I was before.”
On his biceps, he sports the words, ‘LOYALT’ and ‘RESPECT’, and according to him, “I want everyone to treat me with respect and just to know that I’m a loyalty guy”. The ‘Skateboarder’ can be seen on Lewis’s right arm. This tattoo may be perceived as one of his childhood interests. ‘The Black Beast’ himself stated, “I used to like to skateboard a little bit when I was younger.”
Lewis has also got not one but two gorilla tattoos on both of his arms. The left gorilla was a cover-up of the ‘Holy Cross’ with his mom’s name. While the right one was an original. Lewis said that he loved gorillas, which are also his favorite animals. The UFC heavyweight also shared that he was born in Louisiana; however, he moved to Houston and has been staying there since 1998. As such, the ‘Texan’ tattoo is his exhibit for the love of Houston and Texas.
And finally, the one tattoo that Derrick Lewis can’t show off is a Penguin! Why? Because it’s located on his behind, and he shared that it would be inappropriate to show it off. He said that at certain times, he is a bit of a show-off. This nature of his drove him to get this tattoo “just to be funny.” But now he has to live his whole life with it.
Now, he’ll be headlining UFC Nashville against Tallison Teixeira, an undefeated Brazilian prospect. It’s a test of youth vs. experience. Power vs. potential. And who knows? Maybe ‘The Black Beast’ might get another highlight reel-worthy moment to add to his collection!
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