Written by Tallison Teixeira | Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Tallison Teixeira has a big task ahead of him, headlining a UFC card versus Derrick Lewis in his second octagon appearance, and he welcomes the extra pressure of ending a “curse.”
Teixeira vs. Lewis serves as the main event for UFC Nashville on July 12, and “Xicão” can become the first Brazilian fighter to win a UFC main event in 2025.
Nine athletes had this opportunity so far this year, a 0-9 run with losses for Amanda Ribas, Renato Moicano, Gregory Rodrigues, Alex Pereira, Diego Lopes, Carlos Prates, Deiveson Figueiredo, Gilbert Burns and Charles Oliveira.
Four of the losses came in championship fights, with “Poatan” dropping the light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev in March, plus failed attempts to win gold by Moicano, Lopes, and Oliveira.
“I like this because I’ll be remembered as the man that ended the Brazilian curse,” Teixeira said with a laugh during an interview with MMA Fighting. “I even joked about it. ‘I’ll knock out Derrick Lewis, I’ll beat Derrick. Come ask me later.’ I know that will happen.”
The last time Brazilians went winless in main events in the first half of the year was 2017, with losses by Bethe Correia, Jose Aldo, Glover Teixeira, Junior dos Santos, Wilson Reis and Vitor Belfort. That year’s “curse” was only snapped in September, with Amanda Nunes defeating Valentina Shevchenko.
“Brazilians need this after sad losses we had,” Teixeira said. “Brazilian needs this incentive, you know? I think that motivates me even more to give my best possible inside the octagon.”
Teixeira improved to 8-0 as a professional fighter after a successful UFC debut victory over Justin Tafa in February, a knockout in just 35 seconds. Lewis has fought three Brazilians in a row in the UFC, knocking out Marcos Rogerio de Lima and Rodrigo Nascimento with a decision defeat to Jailton Almeida in between.