UFC Fight Night Nashville is headlined by Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira on Saturday, July 12.
With fights that will have rippling effects through the rankings, including the Heavyweight main event, Fight Night Nashville should not be ignored, despite being sandwiched between two of the biggest cards of the year.
We’ll break down the top UFC Fight Night Nashville predictions and picks, including a Lewis vs Teixeira pick, main card fight predictions, and PrizePicks UFC projections.
Click here to go directly to the UFC Fight Night Nashville: Lewis vs. Teixeira Predictions below.
The UFC Nashville: Lewis vs. Teixeira main card is set to start at 9 p.m. ET, with Lewis vs. Teixeira expected to start around 11:30 p.m. ET, depending on when the other fights end.
While the hype for this card doesn’t quite live up to the summer of banger cards we’ve been gifted recently, it does move the chains in multiple divisions in ways that the PPV cards do not. and features a surprisingly strong cast of fighters in the undercard.
For the main event, we have UFC Legend Derrick Lewis fighting undefeated challenger Tallison Teixeira. Co-headlining UFC Nashville are Stephen Thompson and Gabriel Bonfim, who are matching up in contention for a move in the Welterweight rankings.
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UFC Fight Night Start Time & Projections: Lewis vs. Teixeira
UFC Fight Night Nashville: Lewis vs. Teixeira main card will start at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 12, while the Lewis vs. Teixeira main event is expected to start at 11:30 p.m. ET— subject to change based on other fights before it.
UFC Fight Night Nashville: Lewis vs. Teixeira projections below are via the PrizePicks MMA board, along with the full main card start times.
Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira – Main Event
- Heavyweight
- Expected start time: 11:30 p.m. ET
- Lewis Projections: 18.5 Significant Strikes
- Teixeira Projections: 22.5 Significant Strikes, 62.55 Fantasy Score
- Significant Strikes (Combo): 38.5 Significant Strikes
- Fight Time Projection: 4.5 Minutes
- Lewis vs. Teixeira Prediction
Stephen Thompson vs. Gabriel Bonfim – Co-Main Event
- Welterweight
- Expected start time: 11 p.m. ET
- Thompson Projections: 40.5 Significant Strikes, 15.5 Rd 1 Significant Strikes
- Bonfim Projections: 38.5 Significant Strikes, 2.5 Takedowns, 14.5 Rd 1 Significant Strikes, 57.55 Fantasy Score
- Significant Strikes (Combo): 78.5
- Fight Time Projection: 12 Minutes
- Thompson vs. Bonfim Prediction
Calvin Kattar vs. Steve Garcia
- Featherweight
- Expected start time: 10:30 p.m. ET
- Kattar Projections: 36.5 Significant Strikes, 17.5 Rd 1 Significant Strikes
- Garcia Projections: 38.5 Significant Strikes, 57.55 Fantasy Score, 17.5 Rd 1 Significant Strikes
- Significant Strikes (Combo): 75.5
- Fight Time Projection: 9.75 Minutes
- Kattar vs. Garcia Prediction
Nate Landwehr vs. Morgan Charriere
- Featherweight
- Expected start time: 10:00 p.m. ET
- Landwehr Projections: 49.5 Significant Strikes, 17.5 Rd 1 Significant Strikes
- Charriere Projections: 51.5 Significant Strikes, 1.5 Takedowns, 53.55 Fantasy Score, 15.5 Rd 1 Significant Strikes
- Significant Strikes (Combo): 100.5
- Fight Time Projection: 14.99 Minutes
- Landwehr vs. Charriere Prediction
Vitor Petrino vs. Austen Lane
- Heavyweight
- Expected start time: 9:30 p.m. ET
- Petrino Projections: 25.5 Significant Strikes, 1.5 Takedowns
- Lane Projections: 19.5 Significant Strikes
- Significant Strikes (Combo): 44.5
- Fight Time Projection: 6 Minutes
- Petrino vs. Lane Prediction
Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira Prediction & Preview
Derrick Lewis can win any fight. With his incredible power and unique striking, even the most difficult opponents have to be wary of what is coming their way. Although he’s only 7-5 in his last 12 fights, the brawler is still one of the most dangerous fighters in the world — and he has the UFC knockout record to prove it.
Across from Lewis will be rising star Tallison Teixeira. While some may call into question the legitimacy of his opposition, Teixeira’s potential is not up for debate. Of his eight fights, not a single opponent has made it out of the first round.
While Teixeira appears impressive, he has never faced anyone near the caliber of The Black Beast. With insane power flying in both directions, this fight could be one of the best Heavyweight matchups of the year and a dramatic finish is no stranger to both men.
Lewis vs. Teixeira Prediction: 4.5 Minutes Fight Time
- Lewis owns the KO record with 15 UFC Knockouts.
- Teixeira has never fought in a second round.
- Lewis’s last five wins have been by KO.
- Teixeira has an average fight time of just over one minute.
Stephen Thompson vs. Gabriel Bonfim Prediction & Preview
Prolific striker Stephen Thompson will be looking to recover from being finished in two consecutive fights this Saturday with a much-needed win. Thompson is currently still ranked, but this fight could determine the trajectory of the remainder of his career.
As a fan-favorite, Wonderboy will be a popular fan pick to utilize his striking in a clinical victory.
In the other corner is rising contender Gabriel Bonfim. Bonfim is 4-1 in his last five fights, and a signature win over Thompson would be exactly what he needs to enter the rankings. With 16 finishes in his 17 wins, Bonfim will likely look to make a statement in his most challenging bout yet.
Thompson vs. Bonfim Prediction: Bonfim – 2.5 Takedowns
- Bonfim has 13 wins by submission.
- Thompson has 63% Takedown Defense.
- Bonfim lands 3.68 Takedowns per 15 minutes.
- Prior to MMA, Thompson was an undefeated kickboxer at 57-0.
Calvin Kattar vs. Steve Garcia Prediction & Preview
A once red-hot Calvin Kattar has struggled as of late. With four consecutive defeats, Kattar has taken a step away from the highest level of the division. With hopes of returning to peak form, we could see the signature high volume and pace that Kattar can bring to the table — a skillset that had him in title challenger contention a few years ago.
Only one of Kattar’s last eight opponents aren’t currently in the top 15 featherweight rankings; so while Steve Garcia might be considered a step down in competition for Kattar, his five-fight win streak is getting hard to ignore. With all five being knockouts, and none seeing the third round — Garcia could prove he belongs in the top of the Featherweight division in the UFC.
Kattar vs. Garcia Prediction: Garcia – 38.5 Significant Strikes
- Garcia lands 5.04 Significant Strikes per minute.
- Garcia defends 89% of Takedowns.
- Kattar has absorbed the most SIgnificant Strikes in one fight in UFC history, at 445.
- Kattar has 54% Significant Strike defense.
Nate Landwehr vs. Morgan Charriere Prediction & Preview
Nate Landwehr's name is almost always followed by “must-watch TV.” While the train has cooled off, many still believe Landwehr has the potential to brawl with the division's best. Landwehr is respected for his high-octane pressure-based style, and if he wants a return to the win column, he’ll need to stick to what he knows best.
Morgan Charriere has been stuck since joining the UFC in 2023. While he has showcased impressive knockout power in two of his four bouts, he is yet to string two wins together. In his fifth UFC fight at Fight Night Nashville, he will need a victory to get back in the positive.
While Charriere has showcased spectacular talent, he will more importantly need to showcase improvement to his pacing and some consistency this weekend.
Landwehr vs. Charriere Prediction: Fight Time 14.99 Minutes
- Charriere’s only UFC wins have come by finish.
- Charriere has a .76 Knockdown average.
- Landwehr’s last two fights have both ended in a finish.
- Landwehr has an average Fight Time of 9:48.
Vitor Petrino vs. Austen Lane Prediction & Preview
Former Light Heavyweight Vitor Petrino is off back-to-back losses to Light Heavyweight division veterans and decided to move up a weight class to Heavyweight for this fight vs. Austen Lane.
While now undersized for the division, Petrino believes that the speed and strength will make up for that weakness. Once 11-0 in his MMA career, Petrino hopes to regain his winning ways with a victory in his Heavyweight debut.
Austen Lane also needs a win this Saturday. This once interesting prospect is now 1-3 in his last four. While his one UFC victory seemed impressive at that time, the legitimacy of that opponent has been called into question with the UFC releasing his opponent following the bout.
Lane will need to prove that he deserves a spot on the UFC roster, and the best way to do that is to utilize his true Heavyweight size and neutralize his smaller opponent.
Petrino vs. Lane Prediction: Petrino – 21.5 Significant Strikes
- Lane has 41% Significant Strike defense.
- Vitor lands 2.83 Significant Strikes per minute.
- Vitor has an average Fight Time of 10:35.
Make UFC Fight Night Predictions on PrizePicks
UFC Fight Night Nashville: Lewis vs. Teixeira is set to be a card of potential bouncebacks and wet our appetite for the following two weeks of amazing UFC cards.
The main card will start around 9 p.m. ET on Saturday; before it does, be sure you’ve locked in your UFC Lineups on PrizePicks — it’s the easiest way to get real money action on UFC Nashville: Lewis vs. Teixeira.
With a card featuring fights in some of the most exciting weight classes, and multiple fights with ranked UFC stars — Saturday night could end up bigger and more impactful than advertised, live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.
Head to the PrizePicks app, click MMA, then predict More or Less on two or more fighters, lock in your picks, and get ready for the sweat during UFC Fight Night Nashville: Lewis vs. Teixeira.
