Here's what to know ahead of the UFC's return to Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on July 12, headlined by Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira.
Fireworks are expected in the main event from Bridgestone Arena as the UFC returns to Nashville on July 12 for UFC on ESPN 70.
No. 9-ranked heavyweight Derrick Lewis, who's scored more knockouts than any fighter in UFC history, returns from a 14-month layoff to take on No. 13-ranked Tallison Teixeira, currently riding a streak of eight first-round finishes to begin his career.
"We called out like three different guys and nobody wanted to fight me," Lewis told The Tennessean. "This guy right here, he turned me down twice, so I'm just happy that he finally accepted the fight. It's very frustrating. It's your job to fight, and a lot of guys don't want to fight. It's very draining on you."
Dana White's UFC last made the trip to Music City in 2023 for UFC on ESPN 50. Is return closes out a busy season of fights in Nashville, which kicked off with PFL's World Tournament on June 12 before bare knuckle boxing made its Tennessee debut later that month.
Here's all you need to know ahead of the UFC's Nashville fight card.
Tickets for UFC Nashville
Tickets for UFC Fight Night in Nashville are available here.
How to watch UFC Fight Night in Nashville?
The entire UFC Fight Night card from Bridgestone Arena will be broadcasted on ESPN, while also streaming live on ESPN+, free for subscribers.
- How to watch:ESPN and ESPN+
Watch UFC Fight Night on ESPN+
What time is UFC Nashville?
Nashville's UFC Fight Night card will kick off with a set of preliminary fights beginning at 5 p.m. (CT) on ESPN and ESPN+, before the main card begins at 8 p.m. (CT). The main event between Derrick Lewis and Tallison Teixeira is expected to begin at approximately 10:30 p.m. (CT).
- Fight card start: 5 p.m. CT
- Main card start: 8 p.m. CT
UFC Fight Night Nashville card
- No. 9 Derrick Lewis (28-12) vs. No. 13 Tallison Teixeira (8-0); heavyweight
- No. 12 Stephen Thompson (17-8-1) vs. Gabriel Bonfim (17-1); welterweight
- No. 14 Calvin Kattar (23-9) vs. Steve Garcia (17-5); featherweight
- Nate Landwehr (18-6) vs. Morgan Charriere (20-11-1); featherweight
- Vitor Petrino (11-2) vs. Austen Lane (13-6, 1NC); heavyweight
- Junior Tafa (6-3) vs. Tuco Tokkos (10-5); light heavyweight
Preliminary fights
- Max Griffin (20-11) vs. Chris Curtis (31-12); welterweight
- Jake Matthews (21-7) vs. Chidi Njokuani (25-10, 1NC); welterweight
- Lauren Murphy (16-6) vs. Eduarda Moura (11-1); flyweight
- Kennedy Nzechukwu (14-5) vs. Valter Walker (13-1); heavyweight
- Mitch Ramirez (8-2) vs. Mike Davis (11-3); lightweight
- Fatima Kline (7-1) vs. Melissa Martinez (8-1); strawweight
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Harrison Campbell covers combat sports for The Tennessean and high school sports for The Daily Herald. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @hccamp.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: UFC Fight Night Nashville: Time, date, watch, full card
Category: General Sports