Derrick Lewis Finishes Tallison Teixeira in 35 Seconds UFC Nashville Recap

By Ali Hammad July 16, 2025 09:02

In a sensational display of knockout power, Derrick Lewis demolished undefeated heavyweight prospect Tallison Teixeira in just 35 seconds at UFC Fight Night in Nashville on July 12, 2025. The dramatic finish not only ended Teixeira’s unbeaten streak but also reaffirmed Lewis’s status as one of the UFC’s most fearsome finishers.

The bout, held at Bridgestone Arena, featured a striking contrast in styles and experience. Teixeira, the towering 6-foot-7 Brazilian phenom, arrived in Nashville riding an 8-0 undefeated record, with all his victories coming via first-round finishes including a stunning 35-second knockout over Justin Tafa earlier in his UFC tenure. The fight marked only his second UFC appearance, fast-tracking him into a main event spotlight against the seasoned “Black Beast.”

Lewis, known for his devastating knockout power and unpredictable style, entered the cage at a career-low weight of 261 pounds the lightest he has been since his UFC debut over a decade ago. Clearly motivated, Lewis seemed sharper and more focused than in recent years, determined to make a statement. UFC CEO Dana White praised Lewis’s preparation, noting post-fight, “Derrick looked incredible out there. This is the Derrick Lewis we’ve been waiting for.”

The fight began with Lewis initiating contact through a disrespectful glove tap, quickly followed by a flying body kick that stunned Teixeira briefly. Amid some gamesmanship, Lewis appeared hurt from a counter strike near his right eye but cleverly masked the injury, luring Teixeira in closer. Then, with lethal precision, Lewis landed a massive left hook that dropped the 25-year-old Teixeira to the canvas.

From there, Lewis unleashed a relentless flurry of punches, forcing referee Jason Herzog to stop the contest at 35 seconds of the first round. The quick end marked Lewis’s 16th UFC knockout extending his record as the leading knockout artist in the promotion’s history and snapped Teixeira’s undefeated streak under dramatic circumstances.

In typical “Black Beast” fashion, Lewis celebrated with flair, discarding his trunks and waving them above his head before cheekily mooning the crowd, capturing the full essence of his irrepressible personality. Later, he approached Teixeira’s corner, symbolically “marking his territory,” and even tossed his protective cup into the audience. During the post-fight interview, Lewis recounted how Teixeira’s team had been “talking sh*t,” fueling his motivation.

UFC commentator Daniel Cormier noted, “Derrick showed he still has the power and guile to finish fights instantly. His clever tactics feigning injury made the difference tonight.”

For Teixeira, the loss was a humbling introduction to the upper echelon’s brutality. Despite prior dominance, he faced a vastly more experienced opponent in Lewis, highlighting the gap to be closed before contending for a title. At just 25, Teixeira remains young, and the defeat could serve as a valuable learning experience.

Lewis’s victory also carries broader implications. It was his third consecutive main event appearance, marking a career resurgence after a period of inconsistency, and pushes him toward renewed title contention in a heavyweight division seeking viable challengers to champion Tom Aspinall.

In sum, UFC Nashville’s main event showcased Derrick Lewis’s relentless knockout power and cunning ring IQ, ending Tallison Teixeira’s unbeaten run in emphatic fashion. The swift finish electrified fans and reminded the MMA world why Lewis remains a perennial threat in any heavyweight clash. As he himself said post-fight, “I’m here to knock out everybody no one’s safe.”

The aftermath sets the stage for Lewis’s next move, with calls already swirling for a title shot and questions lingering about how Teixeira will respond to this abrupt setback as he charts his future in the UFC.