The UFC is reportedly gearing up for a return to Nashville, Tennessee, with a Fight Night card featuring Derrick Lewis at the top of the lineup.
On Wednesday, MMA journalist Laerte Viana reported on social media that Lewis is set to headline a non-pay-per-view event on July 12 against Tallison Teixeira, with the venue yet to be determined.
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"The Black Beast" will be returning to the Octagon for his comeback after more than a year away. His last appearance came in May 2024, when he delivered a third-round knockout victory over Rodrigo Nascimento.
Lewis has struggled with consistency in the UFC, going 3-5 in his last eight outings. Among those setbacks is a lopsided knockout loss to Ciryl Gane in their interim heavyweight title clash at UFC 265 in August 2021. He holds a 19-10 record inside the Octagon, with a staggering 15 of those victories coming by knockout.
Meanwhile, Teixeira, the tallest active fighter in the UFC at 6'8", made his promotional debut at UFC 312 in February, where he secured a blistering 35-second knockout victory over Justin Tafa. "Xicao" earned his shot in the UFC with a first-round knockout of Arthur Lopes on Dana White's Contender Series in September 2024.
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The 25-year-old Brazilian has maintained a flawless professional record, securing all eight of his victories by stoppage — seven by knockout and one via submission.