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UFC Nashville Showcases Veteran Dominance and Rising Stars
13 Jul
Summary
- Derrick Lewis' 35-second knockout win over Tallison Teixeira
- Merab Dvalishvili named ESPY 2025 Fighter of the Year
- UFC Nashville sets attendance record for Nashville events

The recent UFC Nashville event showcased a mix of seasoned veterans and up-and-coming prospects, with some fighters enjoying positive outcomes while others faced narrow defeats. The main event featured a heavyweight clash between veteran Derrick Lewis and rising prospect Tallison Teixeira, which ended in just 35 seconds as Lewis, the UFC's all-time leader in knockout wins, once again demonstrated his finishing power.
Elsewhere on the card, Merab Dvalishvili was recognized for his impressive achievements, being named the ESPY 2025 Fighter of the Year. Dvalishvili had become the UFC bantamweight champion in September 2024 and successfully defended his title twice since then, most recently in a rematch with Sean O'Malley in June 2025.
The Bridgestone Arena in Nashville welcomed over 17,000 fans for the UFC Fight Night, exceeding the attendance figures of recent events in Baku and Des Moines. The event also generated a gate of $2,189,826, making it the highest reported gate for a UFC event held in the city.