UFC on ESPN 70 Main Card Preview
Veterans Meet Rising Stars at UFC Nashville
The world’s premier MMA promotion returns this weekend after a brief hiatus, as the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, hosts UFC on ESPN 70.
The event features a slate of seasoned veterans looking to halt the momentum of fast-rising prospects.
Let’s take a look at the main card action set for Saturday night:
Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira (Heavyweight)
The UFC’s all-time knockout leader, Derrick Lewis (28-12 MMA, 19-10 UFC), returns to action in a five-round main event against unbeaten Brazilian powerhouse Tallison Teixeira (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC). With 19 wins in the UFC’s heavyweight division, “The Black Beast” trails only Andrei Arlovski (23) for most wins in the weight class.
Now 40 years old, Lewis has bounced back after a rough stretch in 2022–23 that saw him drop three straight. He’s won two of his last three and will be facing a Brazilian opponent for the fourth consecutive time.
Teixeira made a thunderous UFC debut at UFC 312, scoring a first-round knockout over Justin Tafa—his eighth first-round finish as a pro.
Stephen Thompson vs. Gabriel Bonfim (Welterweight)
In the co-main event, former two-time title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (17-8-1 MMA, 12-8-1 UFC) faces off with rising Brazilian talent Gabriel Bonfim (17-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC). Thompson came heartbreakingly close to UFC gold in 2016 and 2017—first battling Tyron Woodley to a draw, then losing a razor-close split decision in the rematch.
At 42, Thompson takes on the dangerous Bonfim, who has finished 16 of his 17 career victories and boasts three stoppages in four UFC wins.
Calvin Kattar vs. Steve Garcia (Featherweight)
Veteran striker Calvin Kattar (23-9 MMA, 7-7 UFC) looks to snap a cold streak as he searches for his first win since January 2022. The 37-year-old has lost five of his last six but gets a chance to bounce back against Steve Garcia (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC), a knockout artist riding a five-fight KO streak.
Nate Landwehr vs. Morgan Charrière (Featherweight)
Tennessee fan-favorite Nate “The Train” Landwehr (18-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC) returns to home soil for his first appearance since a TKO loss to Doo Ho Choi at UFC 310 in December. Though he’s struggled with consistency, Landwehr is always a must-watch.
He faces Morgan Charrière (20-11-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC), a former Cage Warriors featherweight champ who most recently dropped a decision to Nathaniel Wood at UFC London.
Vitor Petrino vs. Austen Lane (Heavyweight)
Vitor Petrino (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) exploded onto the scene in 2022 with four straight wins in the light heavyweight division, but a tough 2024—featuring stoppage losses to Anthony Smith and Dustin Jacoby—has forced the Brazilian to make a change. Now moving up to heavyweight, Petrino looks to restart his momentum.
Awaiting him is 6’6″ Austen Lane (12-6 MMA, 1-3 UFC), who’s also looking to rebound after dropping three of his last four, all by knockout.
Junior Tafa vs. Tuco Tokkos (Light Heavyweight)
Junior Tafa (6-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) drops to 205 pounds after an inconsistent run at heavyweight. The New Zealand native known as “The Juggernaut” looks to find new success in a lighter division.
He opens the main card against Tuco Tokkos (10-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC), a former Fury FC champion who is still searching for his first UFC win.
Paul Browne is a professional mixed martial arts commentator, feature writer and podcaster based in Dublin, Ireland.
