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Derrick Lewis Vs. Tallison Teixeira Preview

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 2:31 AM ET

Derrick Lewis faces Tallison Teixeira this weekend in a middleweight clash as we preview this upcoming fight.

Lewis arrives into the fight, having not been in the Octagon since May 2024. That is when he secured a third-round knockout win against Nascimento. Lewis was on course to fight last November but withdrew from the fight due to illness. Lewis has secured two wins from his last three fights, which was the perfect response after four losses in his previous five bouts.

Meanwhile, Teixeira has stopped all of his MMA opponents inside the distance, with seven coming by way of knockout. He made his UFC debut at UFC 312, stopping Justin Tafa in the first round. Lewis is at the latter end of his career, while Teixeira can propel his career to new heights.

Pre-Fight

“I stand up right there with him. That’d be good to fight him before everything is said and done with. I have a couple fights left on my contract. I would love to finish out my contract. That would be great if I can. It’d be good. Let him know I need to fight Tom Aspinall for the belt.

“I haven’t really fought for the belt. They tried to give me a title fight when it was Stipe (Miocic), and I wasn’t expecting the title fight because I had a knee injury, and I ended up fighting DC’s big a-- on short notice. Then they tried to give me an interim title fight with Gane. I haven’t really fought for the title with a proper buildup for a title fight, and that time to train and everything like that mentally,” Lewis