Derrick Lewis is a fan-favorite in the UFC for his unfiltered personality. ‘The Black Beast’ has gone viral in the past for taking his shorts off during post-fight interviews and his celebrations after winning his fights. Lewis boasts an impressive 14 knockouts during his UFC career, a record in the promotion. However, his life outside the cage has been marked with run-ins with the authorities.

It was recently reported that the Houston native had been arrested for allegedly speeding in a sports car. The news came just days before his fight at UFC Sao Paulo. But this isn’t the first time Lewis has been charged by the law. Let’s take a look at Derrick Lewis and his troubles with the authorities.  

Derrick Lewis arrested for speeding days before UFC Sao Paulo 

Derrick Lewis was set to face Jailton Almeida at UFC Sao Paulo on November 4th. However, it was reported that the UFC heavyweight had been arrested in his hometown of Houston. The reports indicate that Lewis was allegedly behind the wheel of his Lamborghini when he was arrested.

Details from the arrest and court records show that Lewis was detained but secured his release via a $100 bond. The reports also show that Lewis was charged with “willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons and property by driving at a high rate of speed and changing lanes in an unsafe manner.”

Further information also revealed that Lewis was allegedly driving at 136 MPH in a 50 MPH zone while weaving in and out of traffic. The fighter was then stopped after he sped by law enforcement officers who pulled him over. The charges against him count as a ‘misdemeanor’ and if Lewis is convicted, he can face up to 30 days in jail or a $200 fine.

Lewis addressed the arrest in a press conference before UFC Sao Paulo. In his trademark humorous fashion, Lewis stated, “Nah, I don’t even think that was me, that guy had hair. You seen the picture? I don’t got no hair. That ain’t me.”

This incident marks the second time in Derrick Lewis’s life that he has been arrested. The first incident occurred when he was still in high school.

Lewis went to jail in high school due to an altercation with a KKK member

In an interview with MMAjunkie Radio in 2013, Derrick Lewis revealed that he had found his way to MMA after being arrested in 2005.

Lewis stated in the interview that he went to jail for a probation violation. The incident began when he was charged with aggravated assault. He explained that he was insulted by a man who appeared to be a member of the KKK (Ku Klux Klan) and was armed with a shotgun. Lewis beat the man down causing him to get seriously injured.

The incident caused him to be put on probation for 2 years. But he violated the terms of his probation after one year. This led to a judge sentencing him to 5 years in prison. Lewis served a total of 3 and a half years of his sentence before he was released.

Read More: “My B*lls Was Hot”- Fans Left in Splits Over Derrick Lewis’ “Genius” Response After Controversial Arrest for Rash Driving

After his release, he stated that a friend of his introduced him to MMA and he fell in love with the sport. His latest arrest comes as Lewis is ready to main-event UFC Sao Paulo in Brazil. The fighter will be looking to secure a win and fans will be looking forward to the post-fight interview if Lewis manages to beat Jailton Almeida. 

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