Dana White attempted to generate last-minute excitement for the UFC Nashville event happening this Saturday. The card will feature a heavyweight face-off between Derrick Lewis and Tarison Teixeira as the promotion returns to Tennessee.
Before his fight, Lewis caused some fan concern by admitting he had eaten enough for his family of four, casting doubt on whether he’d make weight. However, at the official weigh-in last Friday, “The Black Beast” surprised everyone by hitting his lightest weight in 11 years, even showing a faint six-pack as he posed on the scale.
Since it’s a Fight Night card, some fans feel the lineup isn’t consistently strong throughout. The co-main event, however, is notable with one of UFC’s most thrilling strikers, Stephen Thompson, making his return against Gabriel Bonfim. To draw attention to some lesser-known matchups, Dana White took to social media to spotlight fighters who might otherwise be overlooked.
He talked up Junior Tafa, a knockout specialist who’s moving from heavyweight to light heavyweight for his UFC debut, boasting six KOs in eight of his ten victories. White also highlighted Calvin Kattal facing Steve Garcia, emphasizing Kattal’s experience against top-tier competition and Garcia’s eagerness to make a name for himself.
Despite these efforts, fans remained underwhelmed by White’s promotion of the card. In response, White admitted he wasn’t trying to oversell but just share information fans might not know. Fans are hopeful that while the card may not look impressive on paper, it could deliver some explosive finishes leading up to the highly anticipated UFC 318 event on July 19.
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Fan Take: This news is significant for fight fans because even events perceived as underwhelming can surprise with exciting moments, showing the depth of talent in the UFC roster. It also signals Dana White’s push to keep fans engaged and invested in upcoming events, which helps maintain momentum for the sport overall.
