The heavyweight main event between Derrick Lewis and Tallison Teixeira headlines UFC on ESPN 70 on July 12, 2025, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s a classic UFC matchmaking move: the proven veteran knockout artist against an undefeated Brazilian rising star with all first-round finishes.

Derrick Lewis

Derrick "The Black Beast" Lewis is the UFC’s all-time knockout leader and a fixture of heavyweight headliners for nearly a decade. Now 40, Lewis is #9 in the rankings and coming off a vintage knockout of Rodrigo Nascimento in May 2024, where he extended his UFC record for KO wins to 15.

Despite recent struggles against grapplers like Jailton Almeida and Serghei Spivac, Lewis remains one of the division’s most dangerous punchers. His style is well-known: patient, explosive, and willing to eat shots to deliver his own. He doesn’t hide the game plan. Even when tired or on the back foot, Lewis can end a fight instantly.

He has faced the elite of the division—Curtis Blaydes, Ciryl Gane, Tai Tuivasa, Sergei Pavlovich—and though he's been stopped by most top contenders lately, he’s reliably lethal against opponents who don’t have the wrestling or composure to avoid trading with him.

Derrick Lewis – Last 5 Fights:

1. Win vs. Rodrigo Nascimento – TKO (Punches) (UFC on ESPN, May 11, 2024)
2. Loss vs. Jailton Almeida – Decision (Unanimous) (UFC Fight Night, November 4, 2023)
3. Win vs. Marcos Rogério de Lima – TKO (Punches) (UFC 291, July 29, 2023)
4. Loss vs. Serghei Spivac – Submission (Arm-Triangle) (UFC Fight Night, February 4, 2023)
5. Loss vs. Sergei Pavlovich – TKO (Punches) (UFC 277, July 30, 2022)

Lewis is aging and vulnerable to grapplers, but in a striking match, he’s always one punch away from victory.

Tallison Teixeira

Tallison Teixeira is Brazil’s hottest heavyweight prospect and currently #13 in the UFC rankings. At just 25 years old, he's 8–0 with 7 knockouts and 1 submission—all finishes coming in the first round.

Teixeira’s UFC debut was a statement: a 35-second TKO over Justin Tafa in Sydney this February that showcased frightening speed, aggression, and a killer instinct. Prior to that, he earned his UFC contract with a first-round KO on Dana White’s Contender Series.

While still green in terms of high-level experience, Teixeira has demonstrated remarkable composure, fight IQ, and finishing variety—knees, head kicks, and slick boxing. The big question is whether he can handle the power, durability, and unpredictability of a veteran like Lewis over multiple rounds.

Tallison Teixeira – Last 5 Fights:

1. Win vs. Justin Tafa – TKO (Knee to Body and Elbow) (UFC 312, February 8, 2025)
2. Win vs. Arthur Lopes – KO (Punches) (DWCS 72, September 17, 2024)
3. Win vs. Matheus Fonseca – KO (Head Kick and Punches) (LFA 183, May 3, 2024)
4. Win vs. Arthur Fonseca – TKO (Punches) (LFA 175, January 27, 2024)
5. Win vs. Julio dos Santos – TKO (Punches) (Dominium FC 20, October 7, 2023)

Teixeira is powerful, confident, and has never seen the second round in his career. But he’s never faced anyone remotely as proven or dangerous as Lewis.

Prediction

This is a textbook "prospect vs. veteran" main event. Lewis has the experience edge and the kind of one-shot power that can turn back an overeager contender. Teixeira is raw in UFC terms, but his finishing instincts and athleticism are real.

If Teixeira rushes in recklessly, Lewis will happily oblige with a knockout counter. But the Brazilian’s recent performances suggest he’s not just a wild brawler; he picks his shots well and works the body with knees and kicks.

The biggest factor is Lewis’s age and declining ability to absorb damage, especially against someone with Teixeira’s speed and diversity of attacks. If Teixeira maintains composure, he can hurt Lewis early and finish him—just as Pavlovich, Tuivasa, and Gane did.

Expect fireworks early, but Teixeira is younger, faster, and hungrier.

Prediction:
Tallison Teixeira def. Derrick Lewis via TKO (Punches and Knees) in Round 1.

Expect a violent start, with Lewis swinging big counters. But Teixeira’s youth, pressure, and varied striking will likely overwhelm the veteran before the first horn.