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ESPN staffJul 10, 2025, 08:54 AM ET
Two-time UFC heavyweight title challenger Derrick Lewis volition beryllium looking to re-enter the rubric representation erstwhile helium takes connected undefeated rising contender Tallison Teixeira successful the main lawsuit of Saturday's UFC Fight Night from Bridgestone Arena successful Nashville, Tennessee (9 p.m. ET, prelims astatine 6 p.m. ET connected ESPN/ESPN+).
Lewis, who fought for an undisputed rubric astatine UFC 230 successful November 2018 and an interim rubric astatine UFC 265 successful August 2021, is making his archetypal Octagon quality of 2025. He bushed Rodrigo Nascimento by third-round knockout successful May 2024. Teixeira enters the combat pursuing a first-round knockout of Justin Tafa astatine UFC 312 successful February.
MMA analysts and erstwhile UFC fighters Anthony Smith and Din Thomas marque their main lawsuit predictions. ESPN betting adept Ian Parker adds penetration and investigation connected the card's astir intriguing bets.
Heavyweight main event
Lewis' acquisition is large successful a combat similar this. It's been a infinitesimal since helium fought, but I deliberation helium fights amended erstwhile he's capable to instrumentality immoderate clip to deliberation astir however large these fights are. -- Din Thomas
Tallison is simply a stud, but he's not supremely tested. Tallison is tall, but Lewis has a weird quality to find the chin of these young, gangly guys. Tallison is astir apt going to privation to wrestle, but I consciousness similar Derrick is really truly bully astatine this anti-wrestling thing. -- Anthony Smith
Betting analysis
Odds close arsenic of July 10. For the astir up-to-date odds, visit ESPN BET.
Parker: Tallison to triumph (+225). Lewis, a instrumentality favorite, is coming disconnected a triumph past outpouring but has rather the pugnacious situation successful beforehand of him successful the 25-year-old Teixeira. Lewis has much than 10 years of UFC acquisition and galore multi-round bouts connected his side, whereas Teixeira hasn't seen the 2nd circular successful his eight-fight nonrecreational career. Will that matter? In the past, Lewis has packed it successful and taken losses erstwhile helium hasn't been capable to tyre retired opponents quickly, and unluckily for him, I spot him connected the incorrect broadside of a knockout punch successful this one. Teixeira is an breathtaking imaginable and perchance a aboriginal UFC heavyweight contender. Either instrumentality his moneyline successful your parlay oregon instrumentality him to triumph wrong the distance.
Parker's champion bets connected the remainder of the card
Welterweight: Stephen Thompson vs. Gabriel Bonfim
Bonfim to triumph wrong the distance. After consecutive losses by decorativeness successful December 2023 and October 2024, Thompson takes connected different up-and-coming finisher successful Bonfim. On the feet, Thompson's region striking and lateral question volition assistance him debar the powerfulness of Bonfim, but for however long? At immoderate point, Bonfim volition get Thompson to the crushed and instrumentality his world-class jiu-jitsu. "Wonderboy," a 13-year UFC seasoned with losses successful 4 of his past 5 fights, deserves recognition for taking this combat astatine this constituent successful his career, but Bonfim is simply a atrocious matchup for him. I expect Bonfim to radiance brightly.
Featherweight: Calvin Kattar vs. Steve Garcia
Garcia to triumph (-125). Garcia, riding a streak of 5 consecutive wins by finish, volition beryllium looking to adhd Kattar to his résumé. Garcia is simply a pugnacious retired for anyone due to the fact that of his knockout powerfulness and durability to match. He besides tin usage his underrated crushed crippled if needed. Kattar is simply a bully fighter, but helium has mislaid 4 successful a row. Unless helium tin tyre retired Garcia with a wrestling crippled that helium seldom uses, I don't spot a way to triumph for Kattar. Look for Garcia to proceed his awesome run.
Light heavyweight: Junior Tafa vs Tuco Tokkos
Tafa to triumph (-175). Plain and simple: If Tokkos cannot instrumentality down Tafa and clasp him down for 15 minutes, Tokkos volition get knocked out. Tokkos has mislaid his past 2 fights, and though Tafa is caller to the airy heavyweight division, helium has knockout powerfulness that lasts an full fight. Expect Tafa to travel retired of the gross looking for the finish, and I deliberation he'll get it.
