The UFC is back in action on Saturday following a short break after UFC 317. On July 12 the fight promotion returns to Nashville, Tennessee for the first time since August 2023. The fast approaching UFC Nashville fight card is headlined by a heavyweight matchup between former UFC heavyweight title challenger Derrick Lewis and the undefeated, and fast-rising Tallison Teixeira.
UFC Nashville airs on ESPN and ESPN+. The fight card takes place at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN.
UFC Nashville Main Event: Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – MAY 11: Derrick Lewis reacts after his TKO victory over Rodrigo Nascimento of … More
Derrick Lewis (28-12-0-1) is the No. 9 fighter in the official UFC heavyweight rankings. The 40-year-old former UFC title challenger is coming off a May 2024 knockout win over Rodrigo Nascimento. Lewis, who owns the record for most knockouts in UFC history with 15, is 2-4 in his past six trips to the Octagon dating back to February 2022.
Lewis has been with the UFC since 2014. He also has the UFC record for most finishes in the heavyweight division with 15. No active UFC heavyweight has as many fights in the Octagon as Lewis does at 29. Lewis has a UFC heavyweight record eight fight-night bonus awards.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 09: Tallison Teixeira of Brazil reacts after a knockout victory against … More
Tallison Teixeira (8-0) joined the UFC in 2024 with a knockout win on a Dana White Contender Series card. The 25-year-old made his official UFC debut in February 2025, scoring a first-round knockout, and a “Performance of the Night” bonus in a win over Justin Tafa.
The UFC is wasting no time in throwing Teixeira into the deep end of the heavyweight pool, giving him a veteran opponent in a main event contest. All eight of Teixeira’s career wins have come via first-round stoppage (seven knockouts, on submission). He has been a pro since 2021. He is ranked No. 13 in the UFC’s heavyweight weight class.
UFC Nashville Main Event Betting Odds And Line Movement: Derrick Lewis Vs. Tallison Teixeira
When BetOnline first published the odds for Lewis vs. Teixeira, Teixeira opened as the -212 betting favorite over the +182 Lewis. The betting line has shifted. Today, Teixeira is -280 to Lewis’s +240
UFC Nashville Main Event Tale Of The Tape: Derrick Lewis Vs. Tallison Teixeira
Derrick Lewis
Age: 40
Height: 6’ 3”
Reach: 79”
Stance: Orthodox
Tallison Teixeira
Age: 25
Height: 6’7”
Reach: 83”
Stance: Orthodox
UFC Nashville Main Event Predictions And Picks: Derrick Lewis Vs. Tallison Teixeira
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 09: Tallison Teixeira of Brazil celebrates his victory over Justin … More
If you’re looking for an outcome for Lewis vs. Teixeira, I’d say lean toward the fight ending via knockout, and maybe even a first round knockout.
My expectation is that the veteran who has been in the Octagon against some of the heaviest hitters in the UFC’s heavyweight division is going to be anxious to test the young man who only has 35 seconds of UFC fight time to his name.
We don’t know much about Teixeira outside of the fact that he’s bigger and younger than Lewis. And while this matchup won’t answer every question we have about Teixeira, it should tell us if he is able to use his size and reach as well as take a punch from the UFC’s all-time leader in knockouts.
The big concern is Teixeira’s defense. He can get tagged and tagged clean. That is an enormous concern.
In an ideal world, Teixeira uses his length to use his kicks to hurt Lewis to the body and then finish him when Lewis is hurt.
The betting pick is Teixeira to win via knockout, but that is not a very confident pick because of his limited UFC fight time and the fact that this is a UFC heavyweight scrap.
We will have more on the UFC Nashville main event as fight night nears, as well as live results, reactions, highlights and more for the UFC Nashville card on fight night.
