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Off the back of one of the most impressive debuts the UFC heavyweight division had ever seen last February, Tallison Teixeira now finds himself in his first-ever promotional main event. Emerging as a budding force in the weight class after just one bout, the undefeated Brazilian will face a major step up in competition when he comes to blows with perennial contender Derrick Lewis at UFC Nashville.
Tallison Teixeira Faces Veteran Derrick Lewis Saturday in Nashville
A veteran of the UFC since 2014, Lewis has racked up a considerable amount of accolades as a heavyweight luminary ahead of the fight vs. Tallison Teixeira on Saturday, including second most bouts and wins in the category at 29 and 19 respectively and most knockouts in company history with 15. A two-time title challenger, the Texas resident possesses some of the most destructive and feared punching power the sport has ever seen. Getting himself back into the winner’s circle following a defeat to Jailton Almeida, “The Black Beast” recorded a sensational stoppage over a very game Rodrigo Nascimento last year at UFC on ESPN 56.
Something of a bruiser himself, Tallison Teixeira has never seen a second round throughout his entire professional career, stopping all eight of his previous opponents in the first; seven of those victories came by strikes. While it is clear that “Xicão” has considerable strength, he also enjoys a few other notable physical advantages, such as his 83-inch reach (four inches longer than Lewis’) and his incredible height of 6-foot-7 and 81 inches. This makes Tallison Teixeira the tallest active UFC athlete, even standing higher than the equally imposing Alexander Volkov by just one inch.
Now on a collision course with his most high-profile opponent to date, the phenom from South America is looking to prove that he does belong amongst the best 265-lb fighters on the planet. Should he conquer Lewis, then the door for a championship opportunity may not be far off for the surging Tallison Teixeira.
Tallison Teixeira’s General Background, Pre-UFC Journey
Born in Vitoria da Conquista, in Bahia, Brazil in 1999, Tallison Teixeira’s interest in martial arts began at a very early age when he decided to take up Jiu-Jitsu at age 8 to decrease his weight and learn how to protect himself. Further along, he would also take up Muay Thai, another popular sport from his homeland, eventually achieving a red Kruang or armband. He also went on to earn a coveted black belt in Jiu-Jitsu.
Forgoing competing at the amateur level, Teixeira started his mixed martial arts career in 2021. Fighting solely on the professional Brazilian regional circuit for the next four years, he swiftly built up a 4-0 record with three knockouts and one submission. He then got his chance at nabbing international notoriety when he fought under the Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) two times in 2024. In those contests, Teixeira ended his adversaries with highlight reel fashion, finishing both men in under four minutes.
Shining on Contender Series and Current UFC Stint
With his monstrous ability to put his opposition’s lights out, Tallison Teixeira had earned the right to be called the next great Brazilian heavyweight prospect. He had also been granted the chance to appear on the highly-regarded Dana White’s Contender Series, where he was matched up with the 6-1 Arthur Lopes in his bid to grab a place on the UFC roster. Proving worthy of his invitation, Teixeira blasted Lopes on the feet, eventually dropping him to the canvas in a little under two minutes to score his contract with the biggest mixed martial arts organization in the world.
Five months later, the 25-year old traveled all the way to Australia to make his promotional debut, on the main card no less, at UFC 312, facing off with the formidable Justin Tafa. One half of the extraordinary Tafa brothers, Justin, much like his younger sibling, Junior, was also a notable knockout artist, netting a 100% finishing rate across his seven professional victories. He had also grown into a competent veteran of the Octagon since arriving in the UFC in 2020.
In front of millions of viewers, Teixeira needed to put on a jaw-dropping performance if he wanted to announce himself as a legitimate threat to anyone in the heavyweight division. Delivering that announcement in just 35 seconds, the Brazilian starched the elder Tafa brother with a combination of thudding elbows and knees, winning the fight in amazing fashion. He would then go on to earn not just his first Performance of the Night bonus, but also his first ranking in the UFC, slotting himself at No. 13 in the 265-lb class.
How Will Tallison Teixeira Fare in Sophomore Appearance?
While his debut went off without a hitch, Tallison Teixeira’s second bout in 2025 will be against arguably the hardest-hitting man the company has ever witnessed in the venerable Lewis. Five months removed from his monumental freshman showing, he will attempt to acquire his literal and metaphorically largest win to date as he continues to nudge closer and closer to title contention.
