Last Saturday (July 12), the UFC landed in Nashville for a Fight Night that delivered fireworks. Veteran knockout king Derrick Lewis obliterated the previously unbeaten Tallison Teixeira with a stunning 35-second KO. In the co-main event, rising Brazilian contender Gabriel Bonfim edged out Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson via split decision, despite Thompson suffering a severe shin injury. The rest of the card showcased spectacular performances and decisive finishes across multiple divisions.
UFC Fight Night Nashville – Main Card Results
| Matchup | Result and Highlights |
|---|---|
| Heavyweight: Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira | Lewis def. Teixeira via TKO (0:35, Round 1) – Lewis extended his UFC knockout record with a viral finish and trademark celebration (Combat Press) |
| Welterweight: Gabriel Bonfim vs. Stephen Thompson | Bonfim won via split decision – Thompson suffered a severe shin gash but showed heart, going the distance |
| Featherweight: Steve Garcia vs. Calvin Kattar | Garcia secured a unanimous decision and extended his win streak |
| Featherweight: Morgan Charrière vs. Nate Landwehr | Charrière earned a late knockout and the Fight of the Night bonus |
| Heavyweight: Vitor Petrino vs. Austen Lane | Petrino made his division debut with a Round 1 submission |
| Light Heavyweight: Tuco Tokkos vs. Junior Tafa | Tokkos won via Round 2 submission |
⚡ Preliminary Card Recap
| Matchup | Result |
|---|---|
| Chris Curtis vs. Max Griffin | Curtis won via split decision |
| Jake Matthews vs. Chidi Njokuani | Matthews submitted Njokuani in Round 1 |
| Eduarda Moura vs. Lauren Murphy | Moura claimed a unanimous decision |
| Valter Walker vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu | Walker earned a heel hook submission in Round 1 |
| Mike Davis vs. Mitch Ramirez | Davis won via TKO in Round 2 |
| Fatima Kline vs. Melissa Martinez | Kline scored a head-kick KO followed by ground and pound in Round 3 |
🏅 Bonus Awards
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Fight of the Night: Morgan Charrière vs. Nate Landwehr
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Performance of the Night: Valter Walker & Fatima Kline
💬 Notable Storylines & Reactions
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Derrick Lewis’ Record KO:
Lewis extended his UFC record to 16 knockouts, delivered a 35-second finish, and had his post-fight interview go viral thanks to his hilarious remarks (TalkSPORT). -
Thompson’s Injury:
Wonderboy suffered a nasty shin laceration but showed resilience. This was the first time in his career he’s lost back-to-back fights (TalkSPORT). -
Emerging Contenders:
Bonfim’s win over a respected veteran sets up a climb into the welterweight rankings. Vitor Petrino, Tuco Tokkos, and Valter Walker all made statements with decisive finishes (MMA Mania).
🧭 What’s Next?
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Derrick Lewis: Now a serious candidate to face Tom Aspinall or take another top contender bout.
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Tallison Teixeira: Despite the loss, Teixeira remains a prospect to watch and could return against fellow up-and-comers like Mick Parkin (MMA Mania).
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Gabriel Bonfim: With this victory, Bonfim could be matched against Geoff Neal or Carlos Prates in a ranking-defining fight.
UFC Fight Night Nashville delivered everything fans expected:
✅ A record-setting KO from Derrick Lewis
✅ Resilient veterans pushing through adversity
✅ Rising prospects making their mark
From the early prelims to the main event, this card proved why Nashville is becoming a must-stop city for MMA.
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