The UFC is rolling back into Nashville, Tennessee, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Set for Saturday night inside the Bridgestone Arena, UFC on ESPN 70 promises to deliver fireworks from top to bottom — and the headliner? Oh, it's none other than the knockout king himself, Derrick Lewis, throwing hands with the undefeated Brazilian rising star Tallison Teixeira. Yes, you read that right. This one’s gonna be a certified barnburner.
And don’t worry — the action doesn’t stop at the main event. From long-awaited comebacks to divisional shake-ups, the card is loaded with fighters who are bringing not just records and reputations, but jaw-dropping stats, heavy hands, and all-out ambition.
Let’s unpack everything you need to know ahead of this epic showdown in Music City.
🎯 Main Event Spotlight: Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira
Here’s a quick rundown of what makes this heavyweight clash can’t-miss material:
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Derrick Lewis (28-12 MMA, 19-10 UFC) is stepping into his 30th UFC heavyweight bout, making him second only to the legendary Andrei Arlovski (42) in appearances. That’s right — Lewis is a UFC staple.
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He holds 19 wins in the UFC’s heavyweight division, just four behind Arlovski.
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15 of those victories came by stoppage, making him the all-time leader in KO finishes for the division.
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With 15 knockouts stemming from punches, Lewis also tops the all-time charts across all UFC divisions.
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And let’s not forget — his eight knockouts via ground strikes? Yeah, that’s tied with Cain Velasquez for the most ever in UFC history.
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Toss in eight fight-night bonuses, and he’s tied for second-most in heavyweight history.
Simply put, Derrick Lewis doesn’t play around. He’s either putting someone out, or going out on his shield.
But don’t sleep on Tallison Teixeira (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC). The undefeated Brazilian is walking into his second UFC fight with the confidence of a man who’s never tasted defeat. Making a jump like this in only your second promotional outing might seem bold — but that’s exactly the kind of energy fans live for. Teixeira is young, hungry, and untested at the elite level. A win here? It could catapult him straight into the title conversation.
🔥 More Stats You Shouldn’t Miss
Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (17-8-1 MMA, 12-8-1 UFC) is also looking to make noise. Known for his flashy kicks and karate background, Thompson is still putting up numbers that matter:
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His 10 knockdowns at welterweight tie him for 4th all-time in that division.
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He also holds eight fight-night bonuses in welterweight action — that’s more than legends like Matt Hughes or Rory MacDonald.
Another standout? Gabriel Bonfim (17-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is on a straight killer streak, with 16 of his 17 wins coming by way of stoppage — including three of his four UFC victories. The dude doesn’t leave things to the judges.
📉 Slumps & Comebacks: Kattar vs. Garcia
The featherweight clash between Calvin Kattar and Steve Garcia is dripping with storylines.
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Kattar (23-9 MMA, 7-7 UFC) hasn’t picked up a win since January 2022. He’s currently riding a four-fight losing streak, the longest skid of his pro career. That said, his heart, toughness, and boxing have never been in question. But at 36, time might not be on his side.
Contrast that with Steve Garcia (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC), who is booming with momentum:
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He’s on a four-fight UFC win streak at featherweight, tied for fourth-best in the division right now.
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All 14 of his career stoppage victories have come via knockout.
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His five-fight knockout streak in the UFC is tied for fourth longest in company history, trailing only Chuck Liddell (7), Don Frye (6), and Sergei Pavlovich (6).
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And yes, his five-fight stoppage streak is the longest current active run in the UFC.
Keep your eyes glued when these two walk in. This could be the "Fight of the Night" waiting to happen.
🔄 Weight Class Shuffle
There’s plenty of movement happening across the divisions, and some fighters are testing the waters in brand-new weight classes:
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Junior Tafa (6-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC), known for his brawling style at heavyweight, is dropping down to light heavyweight. Could the cut give him a speed edge? We’ll find out.
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Chris Curtis (31-12 MMA, 5-4 UFC) is doing the opposite — he’s dropping from middleweight to welterweight, marking a shift after 10 appearances at 185.
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Jake Matthews (20-7 MMA, 14-7 UFC), an Aussie UFC veteran, is making his 22nd octagon appearance, the most by any Australian-born fighter.
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He’s gone 10-4 since moving to welterweight in 2017.
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On the flip side, Chidi Njokuani (25-10 MMA, 5-3 UFC) is 3-0 at welterweight since dropping down in March 2024.
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His 16-second debut win at UFC Fight Night 200 is the second-fastest debut win in UFC middleweight history.
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These weight class jumps can be high-risk, high-reward. Sometimes they breathe new life into a fighter’s career. Sometimes… not so much.
💥 Wildcards to Watch
Lauren Murphy (16-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) is stepping back into the cage after 903 days away — the longest layoff of her career. Can she shake off the ring rust?
Then there’s Kennedy Nzechukwu (14-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC), a heavy hitter who’s now 2-0 since moving up to heavyweight. He even scored a comeback KO at UFC 259 despite a massive -64 significant strike differential — the biggest statistical comeback ever recorded for a light heavyweight bout, and the third-biggest overall in UFC history. That’s the definition of not giving up.
Valter Walker (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), meanwhile, is making waves of his own — becoming one of only four UFC heavyweights to ever win a fight by heel hook submission. He locked it in at UFC 305 and instantly grabbed fans' attention.
📺 Where to Watch
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📍 Venue: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
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📅 Date: Saturday
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📺 Broadcast: Main card airs live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+
🧨 Final Word: Don’t Blink
UFC on ESPN 70 has all the ingredients of a classic — a legendary KO artist looking to prove he’s still got it, hungry up-and-comers trying to make their mark, veterans switching divisions for one last run, and wildcards that could shake up the entire rankings board.
From first punch to final bell, this card screams unpredictability. And if history tells us anything about Derrick Lewis or anyone on this lineup... it’s that you really shouldn’t blink.
So grab your snacks, call your fight-night crew, and get ready — because Nashville’s about to get a whole lot louder.
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