The heavyweight main card bout between Vitor Petrino and Austen Lane goes down at UFC on ESPN 70 on July 12, 2025, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. It's a compelling striker-vs-striker matchup between a powerful Brazilian moving up from light heavyweight and a former NFL defensive end with true heavyweight knockout power.

Vitor Petrino

Vitor Petrino is a 27-year-old Brazilian who made his name in the UFC’s light heavyweight division with devastating knockouts and athletic explosiveness. A former Contender Series standout, Petrino’s UFC run has featured flashy finishes, heavy hands, and improved grappling.

Despite starting his UFC career 5–0, he’s hit a rough patch, dropping back-to-back fights to Anthony Smith (submission) and Dustin Jacoby (KO). The move up to heavyweight here is notable: at 6'2" and 205–210 pounds naturally, he'll be undersized for the division but should have a speed advantage.

Petrino’s style is aggressive and powerful. He’s finished 8 of 11 wins (7 by KO) and has showcased a devastating right hand, a nasty top game, and willingness to brawl. But his defensive holes were badly exposed in his last two losses—Smith caught him in a guillotine, while Jacoby’s veteran striking put him out late.

Vitor Petrino – Last 5 Fights:

1. Loss vs. Dustin Jacoby – KO (Punch) (UFC on ESPN, December 14, 2024)
2. Loss vs. Anthony Smith – Submission (Guillotine Choke) (UFC 301, May 4, 2024)
3. Win vs. Tyson Pedro – Decision (Unanimous) (UFC Fight Night, March 2, 2024)
4. Win vs. Modestas Bukauskas – KO (Punch) (UFC Fight Night, November 4, 2023)
5. Win vs. Marcin Prachnio – Submission (Arm-Triangle) (UFC 290, July 8, 2023)

Petrino is dangerous early with KO power, but he's still developing his defensive grappling and striking defense.

Austen Lane

Austen Lane is a 37-year-old former NFL defensive end who transitioned to MMA in 2017. He’s fought in various promotions before earning a UFC contract, known for his size (6'6"), athleticism, and raw power.

Lane is a true heavyweight who has 11 knockouts among his 13 wins. But he’s also been stopped 6 times, exposing a chin that can’t always withstand heavyweight bombs. He has a brawler’s style, often charging in with big punches and clinch work, though he’s shown flashes of improvement in pacing and takedown defense.

Lane's recent UFC run is inconsistent. He picked up a solid win over Robelis Despaigne—outlasting the Cuban’s early storm—but was knocked out in less than a minute by Mario Pinto in his last fight in March 2025. Lane’s durability and defensive lapses make every fight a coin-flip shootout.

Austen Lane – Last 5 Fights:

1. Loss vs. Mario Pinto – KO (Punch) (UFC Fight Night, March 1, 2025)
2. Win vs. Robelis Despaigne – Decision (Unanimous) (UFC Fight Night, October 19, 2024)
3. Loss vs. Jhonata Diniz – KO (Punches) (UFC on ESPN, April 27, 2024)
4. Loss vs. Justin Tafa – KO (Punches) (UFC 293, September 10, 2023)
5. NC vs. Justin Tafa – No Contest (Eye Poke) (UFC on ABC, June 24, 2023)

Lane is always dangerous with one-shot KO power, but his defensive issues and age are liabilities at the UFC level.

Prediction

This is an intriguing matchup of raw power and big-fight volatility. Petrino is untested at heavyweight but brings speed, explosiveness, and a well-rounded finishing game. Lane has the natural size, power, and experience in the division—but he's inconsistent and hittable.

The biggest X-factor is whether Petrino’s light heavyweight power and speed translate up a division. Lane has been stopped quickly several times, making him vulnerable to fast, accurate strikers.

If Lane can use his size to clinch and slow things down, he can wear on the smaller Petrino and land something big. But Petrino’s sharper boxing, youth, and aggression should allow him to find Lane’s chin early.

Prediction:
Vitor Petrino def. Austen Lane via KO (Punches) in Round 1.

Expect a short, violent fight. Petrino will likely use speed and angles to dodge Lane’s telegraphed shots and counter with precision, finishing Lane before the end of the first round.