Las Vegas — The UFC makes its highly anticipated return to Nashville on Saturday, July 12, with a thrilling heavyweight main event featuring knockout specialist and former title challenger Derrick Lewis (No. 9) facing off against undefeated Brazilian powerhouse Tallison Teixeira (No. 14). The action-packed card will also showcase a featherweight battle between fan-favorite Calvin Kattar (No. 15) and surging finisher Steve Garcia.
UFC Nashville: Lewis vs. Teixeira will take place at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Fans can catch the entire event live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, with coverage in both English and Spanish via ESPN+. Prelims begin at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, followed by the main card at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
Tickets go on sale Friday, May 30 at 10 a.m. CT via Ticketmaster.com, with a limit of eight tickets per customer. UFC Fight Club® members get early access beginning Wednesday, May 28, and UFC newsletter subscribers can access a presale on Thursday, May 29 by registering at UFC.com.
Houston’s own Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis (28-12, 1 NC) returns to the Octagon looking to extend his record-setting 15 career UFC knockouts. Known for his raw power and fight-ending ability, Lewis has delivered unforgettable finishes against top names like Curtis Blaydes, Alexander Volkov, and most recently, Rodrigo Nascimento. Entering his 10th UFC main event, Lewis is determined to fend off a rising contender and maintain his spot among the heavyweight elite.
Standing in his way is the undefeated Tallison Teixeira (8-0), fighting out of São Paulo, Brazil. A standout from Dana White’s Contender Series, Teixeira has finished every opponent in the first round, including wins over Justin Tafa and Arthur Lopes. With this being his first UFC headliner, Teixeira sees this bout as his breakout moment on the global stage.
Featherweight warrior Calvin Kattar (23-9), fighting out of Methuen, Massachusetts, makes his second appearance of 2025, looking to deliver another classic war. Known for his boxing acumen and durability, Kattar has gone toe-to-toe with some of the division’s best, including Giga Chikadze, Dan Ige, and Jeremy Stephens, earning five Fight of the Night bonuses along the way.
Opposite him, Steve Garcia (17-5) of Albuquerque, New Mexico, enters with momentum and eyes on the rankings. Tied for the fourth-most consecutive knockouts in UFC history with five, Garcia brings finishing power and confidence, following wins over Kyle Nelson, Melquizael Costa, and Chase Hooper.
Additional Bouts on the Card:
Jake Matthews (21-7) vs. Chidi Njokuani (25-10, 1 NC) – Welterweight showdown
Junior Tafa (6-3) vs. Tuco Tokkos (10-5) – Light heavyweight battle
Ateba Gautier (7-1) vs. Robert Valentin (11-5, 1 NC) – Heavy-hitting middleweights square off
Vitor Petrino (11-2) makes his heavyweight debut vs. Austen Lane (13-6, 1 NC)
Max Griffin (20-11) returns to face Chris Curtis (31-12, 1 NC) in a welterweight clash
Fatima Kline (7-1) vs. Melissa Martinez (8-1) – Strawweight prospects meet in a pivotal bout
Lauren Murphy (16-6) returns to flyweight action against Eduarda Moura (11-1)
With a mix of top contenders, rising stars, and thrilling stylistic matchups, UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Teixeira promises to deliver an unforgettable night of fights in the heart of Music City.
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.
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