Fighters Only : Multiple New Fights Confirmed for UFC Nashville

Paul Browne

May 28, 2025

A selection of new fights have been added to the UFC Fight Night event scheduled for July 12 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Featherweight veteran Calvin Kattar faces a massive test in the co-main event when he takes on rising star Steve Garcia. Kattar (23-9 MMA, 7-7 UFC) has stumbled of late having suffered four defeats in a row. The Boston native's last win came in January of 2022 against Giga Chikadze.

Awaiting Kattar will be Garcia (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC), who has beaten (and finished) six of his last seven opponents inside the Octagon, a run stretching back as far as 2021.

A welterweight matchup between Jake Matthews (21-7 MMA, 14-7 UFC) and Chidi Njokuani (25-10 MMA, 5-3 UFC) is expected to take place on the main card at Bridgestone Arena. Matthews has looked impressive recently, winning three of his last four fights. Meanwhile, the 36-year-old Njokuani appears to have turned a corner after a rough patch—he suffered three straight losses between 2022 and 2023 but has since bounced back with wins over Rhys McKee, Jared Gooden, and Elizeu Zaleski.

Also in Nashville, Chris Curtis is set to return to the welterweight division to face Max Griffin. Former PFL standout Curtis (31-12 MMA, 5-4 UFC) last competed at 170 pounds in 2021 before signing with the UFC. “The Action Man” has struggled recently in the Octagon, winning just one of his last five bouts. His opponent, Max Griffin (20-11 MMA, 8-9 UFC), is also looking to regain momentum after losing three of his last five fights. “Pain” was most recently submitted by Michael Chiesa at UFC 310 in December.

Junior Tafa (6-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) is also set for a change in weight class at UFC Nashville. The Australian heavyweight will make his light heavyweight debut against Tuco Tokkos (10-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC). Tafa lost three of his first four UFC appearances but earned a victory in his most recent outing against Sean Sharaf last October. Tokkos, meanwhile, is still searching for his first UFC win in what will be his third attempt.

The event will be headlined by a heavyweight clash between Derrick Lewis (28-12 MMA, 19-10 UFC) and undefeated Brazilian prospect Tallison Teixeira (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC).