No. 9 ranked Derrick Lewis is set to face No. 13 Tarison Teixeira in a heavyweight bout this Saturday at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Teixeira. The event will take place at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, with the main card starting at 9 p.m. Lewis recently scored a knockout win over Rodrigo Nascimento in May, while Teixeira achieved a TKO victory against Justin Tafa in February at UFC 312. Teixeira enters as the betting favorite with odds of -285, while Lewis is the underdog at +230, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. In the co-main event, Gabriel Bonfim is favored at -455 against Stephen Thompson (+350) in a welterweight fight. MMA analyst Daniel Vitranni offers expert predictions and betting advice ahead of the event.
Vitranni, known for his analytical approach, has maintained a successful track record since his January 2023 debut, including an impressive 5-0 run at UFC 283. His notable calls include the upset of Sean O’Malley against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 and his underdog pick for Dustin Poirier at UFC 299. Vitranni has studied the Lewis vs. Teixeira matchup extensively and shared his top betting picks on SportsLine. Fans are encouraged to check the latest promo codes for DraftKings, FanDuel, and betMGM for enhanced betting opportunities.
Derrick Lewis, 40, has been a pro fighter since 2010, competing in Bellator MMA, Legacy FC, and UFC. He holds the UFC record for most knockouts with 15 and has a professional record of 28 wins, 12 losses, and 1 draw, including 23 knockouts. Lewis boasts the second-highest number of heavyweight wins (19) and fights (29) in UFC history. Despite losing five of his last eight fights, he remains a fan favorite with multiple night performance awards and once held the One Fighting Championship heavyweight title with a successful defense.
Tarison Teixeira, 25, turned pro in 2021 and started his career with a 6-0 streak in Brazil, all first-round knockouts. After winning a fight on Dana White’s Contender Series, he earned a UFC contract. Teixeira remains undefeated with an 8-0 record, including seven knockouts and one submission. The Brazilian, fighting out of Team Lucas Mineiro, made his UFC debut by defeating Justin Tafa and earning a performance of the night bonus.
Predictions from Vitranni also mention a notable underdog pick for Lauren Murphy in her flyweight bout against Eduarda Moura, highlighting Murphy’s comeback after a long break and her preparation to end her career on a high note.
The main fight card odds include:
– Derrick Lewis (+230) vs. Tarison Teixeira (-285)
– Stephen Thompson (+350) vs. Gabriel Bonfim (-455)
– Calvin Kattar (+110) vs. Steve Garcia (-130)
– Nate Landwehr (+210) vs. Morgan Charriere (-258)
– Vitor Petrino (-700) vs. Austen Lane (+500)
– Junior Tafa (-180) vs. TUCO (+150)
Fans can visit SportsLine for detailed analysis and expert picks, including a behind-the-scenes look at fighters still competing at a high level.
Fan Take: This matchup between a seasoned knockout artist in Derrick Lewis and the undefeated prospect Tarison Teixeira offers a thrilling clash of experience versus youth, which could shake up the heavyweight division rankings. For fight fans, it’s a compelling narrative of legacy and rising talent that could shape the future trajectory of the UFC heavyweight scene.
