The Octagon heads to Music City this Saturday as UFC on ESPN 70 rolls into Nashville, Tennessee. After a brief break in the schedule, fans will be treated to a main card stacked with action, featuring a mix of heavyweight veterans, rising contenders, and homegrown favorites.
With pivotal bouts across multiple divisions, here’s a breakdown of the fights set to take place at the Bridgestone Arena:
Main Event: Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira (Heavyweight)
UFC knockout king Derrick Lewis (28-12, 19-10 UFC) returns to center stage to face off against unbeaten Brazilian juggernaut Tallison Teixeira (8-0, 1-0 UFC) in a five-round heavyweight headliner.
At 40 years old, Lewis is still a dangerous presence inside the cage, having recently snapped a losing streak with two wins in his last three. Known for his one-punch finishing power, the veteran is currently second in all-time UFC heavyweight wins, just behind Andrei Arlovski.
Teixeira, meanwhile, burst onto the UFC scene earlier this year with a crushing first-round knockout over Justin Tafa at UFC 312—his eighth first-round finish. A win over Lewis would instantly launch him into the top-10 conversation.
Co-Main Event: Stephen Thompson vs. Gabriel Bonfim (Welterweight)
Former welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (17-8-1, 12-8-1 UFC) takes on fast-rising Brazilian finisher Gabriel Bonfim (17-1, 4-1 UFC) in a classic veteran-vs-prospect showdown.
Thompson, now 42, is one of the division’s most respected strikers. He narrowly missed out on UFC gold twice during his series with Tyron Woodley and is looking to prove he can still compete with the next wave of talent.
Bonfim has quietly emerged as a dark horse in the division, with 16 of his 17 wins coming by finish. He’ll look to make a major statement by taking out one of the most seasoned strikers in UFC history.
Calvin Kattar vs. Steve Garcia (Featherweight)
Struggling to regain momentum, Calvin Kattar (23-9, 7-7 UFC) will look to halt his skid as he squares off against surging knockout specialist Steve Garcia (17-5, 6-2 UFC).
Kattar hasn’t won since early 2022 and has dropped five of his last six. His opponent, Garcia, enters the fight on a red-hot run—finishing all five of his most recent wins by knockout.
Nate Landwehr vs. Morgan Charrière (Featherweight)
Local favorite Nate “The Train” Landwehr (18-6, 5-4 UFC) returns to action in front of a home-state crowd after a TKO loss to Doo Ho Choi late last year. The Tennessee native is known for his gritty style and all-action performances.
Across from him is Morgan Charrière (20-11-1, 2-2 UFC), the former Cage Warriors champion who’s looking to bounce back from a loss to Nathaniel Wood. Expect fireworks in this one.
Vitor Petrino vs. Austen Lane (Heavyweight)
After a promising start to his UFC run at light heavyweight, Vitor Petrino (11-2, 4-2 UFC) makes the move to heavyweight following back-to-back stoppage losses in 2024. The Brazilian is hoping a fresh start at a new weight class reignites his rise.
Standing in his way is towering 6’6” heavyweight Austen Lane (12-6, 1-3 UFC), who’s trying to avoid a fourth loss in five outings—each of his recent defeats coming by knockout.
Junior Tafa vs. Tuco Tokkos (Light Heavyweight)
In the opening bout of the main card, Junior Tafa (6-3, 2-3 UFC) drops to light heavyweight for the first time in his UFC career after an uneven run at heavyweight. The New Zealander brings knockout power but seeks consistency in his performances.
He’ll face Tuco Tokkos (10-5, 0-2 UFC), a former Fury FC champ still chasing his first UFC victory. With both men hungry for a turnaround, this fight has plenty on the line.
