The fight for the heavyweight championship will take place in Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, on Saturday. UFC veteran Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis will go against the unbeaten Brazilian Tallison “Xicão” Teixeira in the event’s main event. At 40 years old, Lewis carries an all-time UFC knockout record into the cage, while 25‑year‑old Teixeira hopes to continue his knockout streak and cement his place among the elites.
This fight is expected to be brutal, and already, odds are flying as fans challenge each other to put money on what they think the best outcome will be. Many fans have likely begun to place bets on Texeira and Lewis, who will throw the last punch, and whether either of them will go down. Online sportsbooks featured on the ReadWrite offshore betting guide are increasingly posting odds strongly in favor of Teixera to win. He is priced around -290 to -325, whereas Lewis is seen as the underdog with odds of around +225. As Lewis hunts for record-setting finishes and Teixeira aims to extend his one-punch dominance, there is no end to Teixeira’s undefeated streak.
Last season ended with Lewis making a powerful third-round TKO over Rodrigo Nascimento in May 2024. Fans who watched the game might remember how he famously moonwalked away from the ring and even “mooned” the crowd in St. Louis. That win marked his 15th UFC knockout. Now, freshly trained and ready for the new season, Lewis is reportedly “in the best shape of his career,” and he is eager to add yet another knockout to his legacy.
On the opposite side, across the Octagon, stands 6’7 Teixeira. His record is thus far untainted by any losses, as he boasts a perfect 8-0 record, all wins in the first round. Teixeira made his UFC debut in February with a stunning 35‑second knockout of Justin Tafa, and he has continued to barrel through the heavyweight ranks ever since. The newbie has a raw, unrelenting style, utilizing his athleticism and his desire to knock out the competition.
Already, the atmosphere is just buzzing with anticipation. At the weigh-ins, Teixeira was steady and confident, even in the face of Lewis’s bravado. Now, fans are dying to see how the match will play out, and thankfully, they don’t have long to wait. Teixeira carries the hopes of Brazilian fans who are keen to break a recent losing streak in UFC main events.
Analysts have called the fight ‘a potential heavyweight shootout’. Both men rely heavily on sudden, explosive power, and unlike many heavyweights, neither favors prolonged battles. The match could end in round one or two. Some have predicted that Lewis, with his experience and knockout pedigree, will take the belt.
For Lewis, another knockout might pave the way to a title shot or high-profile matchup, perhaps even against champion Tom Aspinall. The newcomer, Texeira, could get away with a loss but a win or a crushing KO earns him a place in the top 15. He would also be the first Brazilian to claim a UFC main event victory in 2025.
