How Did Derrick Lewis Make His Money?

Before the bright lights of the UFC and the cheers of massive crowds, Derrick Lewis cut his teeth in the less glamorous world of New Orleans street fights. There were no referees to step in, no judges to score points; it was a hard-knock education in the gritty art of fisticuffs.

But everything changed when his family decided Houston, Texas, would be their new home. Swapping out the scrappy backstreets for a local boxing gym, Lewis took the first steps toward refining his raw fighting talent.

Just when it seemed like Lewis was about to make his amateur boxing debut, destiny sucker-punched him. The gym shut down, leaving him without a venue to showcase his newly acquired skills. But don’t think that time was wasted. The fundamentals he learned there gave him a solid foundation for what was to come.

Having experienced both the unregulated brawls of the streets and the structured discipline of boxing, Lewis was a natural fit for the fast-growing sport of mixed martial arts. But if you think the path to the UFC octagon was a walk in the park, think again.

Shortly after tossing his high school graduation cap into the air, Lewis found himself in a courtroom. Convicted of aggravated assault, he narrowly avoided a prison stint but found himself saddled with probation.

As if getting a second chance, Lewis snagged a football scholarship to Kilgore College, a good couple hundred miles north of Houston. But old habits die hard, and a probation violation sent him behind bars for five long years.

Serving roughly three and a half of those years, Lewis emerged from prison not broken, but more determined than ever. Almost as if making up for lost time, he started MMA training within weeks of his release. The struggles, setbacks, and comebacks all converge to form the compelling narrative of Derrick Lewis today.

Derrick Lewis, UFC Fighter

In the budding stages of his MMA career, Derrick Lewis hit the mentorship jackpot, getting to train under boxing legend George Foreman—a two-time heavyweight world champion and Olympic gold medalist.

To pay the bills, Lewis did a balancing act with a string of odd jobs. But after decimating his opponent in his first MMA showdown, he knew he had to commit full-throttle to the sport.

Flash forward to 2009 when Lewis squared off against Jay Ross in what was his official entry into the MMA world. Things didn’t go his way—thanks to a doctor’s intervention, a TKO was called, and Ross strutted away with the win.

But, you know what they say about setbacks—they’re just the universe’s way of preparing you for a comeback. True to form, Lewis returned to the Octagon a few months later and this time, he pummeled Tim Buchanan to win by TKO, effectively avenging his earlier loss.

From that pivotal win, Derrick Lewis was unstoppable. Though his time at Bellator was nothing to write home about, he blazed a trail of triumphs shortly thereafter, going on an eye-popping 6-0 win streak.

And let’s not forget that one of those victories included a defense of his Legacy FC Heavyweight Championship title. This extraordinary run couldn’t be ignored, and soon enough, the UFC came knocking with a contract in hand.

Today, Derrick Lewis is more than just another name in the UFC lineup; he’s a larger-than-life character both inside and outside the Octagon.

With a humor that’s as lethal as his punches, Lewis is a crowd-pleaser online and in live fights. But what really turns heads? His jaw-dropping tally of 14 knockouts—the most ever in the UFC. 

How Much Does Derrick Lewis Make Per Fight?

Well, the numbers can vary wildly, depending on the match-up and stakes involved. Take 2018, for example; Lewis pocketed a cool $350,000 guaranteed purse after taking down Daniel Cormier.

Fast forward to 2021, and the man walked away with a $370,000 plus an additional $50,000 win bonus for beating Curtis Blaydes at UFC Fight Night 185.

But don’t assume that his fight purses are always on an upward trend. In both 2022 and 2023, he cashed in three separate purses, each amounting to $350,000. At another UFC event in 2023, he raked in a comparatively modest $275,000.

How Much Did Derrick Lewis Make In His Last Fight?

Lewis’s last showdown was at UFC 291 on July 29, 2023, where he went toe-to-toe with Marcos Rogerio de Lima—a fighter known for his brute strength and dedicated fan base. Lewis didn’t just win; he obliterated de Lima with a TKO in a jaw-dropping 33 seconds.

For that spectacle, Lewis scored a guaranteed purse of $275,000, and that’s not all. He also bagged a win bonus and snatched a Performance of the Night bonus award, both summing up to $50,000.

All in all, it’s safe to ballpark his total earnings from that single fight around $425,000. And let’s not forget, he likely got a slice of the pay-per-view pie, too, though the exact figure remains under wraps.

The Black Beast Knockout Reel

Ah, Derrick Lewis, the man who’s made “the Black Beast” more than just a nickname—it’s an identity. If you’ve never deep-dived into his YouTube knockout highlights, you’re missing out on some top-tier combat sports entertainment. That’s because, as you’ll see, Derrick throws punches like he’s swinging sledgehammers!

Imagine this scenario: Lewis is toe-to-toe with Gabriel Gonzaga. The fight’s barely started, and—wham!—he kicks Gonzaga square in the face within 20 seconds. But wait, that’s merely the opening act.

The grand finale unfolds as the round concludes, with Lewis dishing out a torrent of power punches that send Gonzaga plummeting to the canvas. No need for a judges’ decision here; the ref calls it a knockout. Score another one for the Beast.

Fast forward to a bout against Curtis Blaydes. At first glance, it looked like Blaydes had Lewis’s number. But here’s the kicker: underestimating the Black Beast is a rookie mistake.

As the round moves forward, Lewis finds his groove, lands a skull-shaking punch, and turns the tables. Then, like a predator sensing weakness, he unloads a fusillade of punches, sending Blaydes crumbling to the mat. Result? Another one-round knockout, folks.

Don’t overlook his throwdown with Chris Daukaus, either. For most of the first round, it felt like an evenly matched chess game of fists and feet. But as the clock ticks down, Lewis decides he’s done playin and unleashes a series of jaw-dropping blows to Daukaus’s face, chest, and midsection, forcing him to hit the mat, hard. It’s yet another knockout that cements his place as the undisputed king of UFC KOs.

Watching Derrick Lewis in action is akin to observing a masterclass in both tactical acumen and sheer, unadulterated power. He’s not in there flinging wild haymakers but instead he meticulously picks his moments and then flips the switch to ‘Beast Mode.’ 

How Did Derrick Lewis Make His Money?

When it comes to raking in the dough, Derrick Lewis isn’t just banking on his jaw-dropping knockouts. Certainly, the fight purses certainly add up, but he’s got multiple income streams that put him in the millionaire’s club. On top of his fight earnings, the UFC shells out an annual salary of $500,000 to keep the Black Beast in its roster.

And let’s talk endorsements for a second. Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen isn’t just frying chicken; they’re one of Lewis’s most prominent backers. So, yeah, he’s getting that spicy chicken money. Add to that a cut from pay-per-view sales, and you start to see why his career earnings hover around an impressive $5.19 million.

But what’s a fighter to do with all that cash? If you’re Derrick Lewis, you indulge in some sweet rides. He’s often spotted behind the wheel of his Mercedes GTS, but when he really wants to turn heads, he’s got a Lamborghini Huracan—purchased circa 2019—sitting in the garage.

But it’s not all about flash and speed; he’s got a heart, too. Back in 2017, when Houston was submerged, he used his lifted truck to rescue around 100 people from the flooding.

Derrick Lewis’s Net Worth

Now, it’s a bit tricky to pin down an exact figure for his net worth, but the buzz around the MMA circuit suggests it’s likely north of $5 million. That’s a lotta chicken, folks—Popeye’s chicken, to be exact.

Aside from smashing faces and collecting fight purses, Lewis has his annual $500,000 salary from the UFC and juicy endorsement deals, most notably from Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen.

Let’s not forget, the man also rakes in a slice of the pie from pay-per-view sales, elevating his income to a whole different level.

Derrick Lewis’s New Contract

Talk about a rollercoaster! In August 2023, the rumor mill was buzzing with whispers that Derrick Lewis, now 38 and still a force in the Octagon, might be hanging up his gloves.

Fans were on the edge of their seats, but the Black Beast chose to keep the show going. He inked a fresh eight-fight deal with the UFC, and given he’s sitting pretty as the 10th-best heavyweight out there, it was like an early Christmas present for fight fans.

The specifics of the new deal are being kept under wraps for now, which just cranks up the intrigue. But let’s be real, considering Lewis is not only a top-tier fighter but also a fan-favorite character (and the king of knockouts in the UFC, mind you), it’s a safe bet he bagged a deal that’s going to fatten his wallet even more.

Derrick Lewis House Wife Age

Derrick Lewis and April Davis are the real deal, a love story away from the limelight of the Octagon. They tied the knot in a Hawaiian ceremony after years of dating.

April is pretty low-key and tends not to seek out the cameras, although she’ll occasionally share the mic with her hubby during interviews.

Word is from their first phone call, April was all in—totally smitten by Derrick’s wit and humor. Fast forward to today, and they’re raising a bustling family with three kiddos: two daughters and a son.

---

The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Financhill has a disclosure policy. This post may contain affiliate links or links from our sponsors.