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DraftKings MMA, UFC DFS Lineup Picks - UFC Nashville: Lewis vs. Teixeira on 7/12/25. MMA DFS analysis to build winning daily fantasy UFC lineups.
UFC heads back to Music City this Saturday, as Bridgestone Arena in Nashville plays host to some solid fights headlined by a heavyweight clash between former title challenger and all-time knockout king, Derrick Lewis, and undefeated UFC prospect Tallison Teixeira, with a co-main event being a welterweight bout between former title challenger Stephen Thompson and Gabriel Bonfim. The event will mark the promotion's seventh visit to Nashville and first since UFC on ESPN 50 in August 2023.
To open up the main card, we have Junior Tafa dropping down to light heavyweight to face off against Tuco Tokkos. Following that, we have a heavyweight fight between Vitor Petrino and Austen Lane. Also on the main card, we have two featherweight bouts. First, Nate Landwehr is taking on Morgan Charriere, followed by a bout between Calvin Kattar and Steve Garcia.
In this article, I will be providing you with my fantasy MMA lineup picks for UFC Nashville: Lewis vs. Teixeira on 7/12/25. Give me a follow on X @sumpor5. Good luck!
DraftKings MMA Welterweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Stephen Thompson, $6.9K - vs. Gabriel Bonfim
Former welterweight title challenger "Wonderboy" Thompson is scheduled to take on Bonfim in the co-main event of UFC Nashville on Saturday. Thompson will look to get back in the win column while Bonfim looks for his third win in a row.
Precision striking at its finest!⚡️@WonderboyMMA is looking for another spark this weekend at UFC Nashville 👊
[ LIVE SAT 9pmET on ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/TNyDyRsZAP
— UFC (@ufc) July 9, 2025
Thompson was a title challenger and one of the best welterweights for years, but it appears that at the age of 42, he is not what he once was. His striking and movement are still great, but his takedown defense is in question as he has been taken down 17 times in his last five fights. Thompson is in dire need of a victory, as he has gone 1-4 in his last five fights. In those five fights, Thompson defeated Kevin Holland but lost to Gilbert Burns, Belal Muhammad, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and, more recently, Joaquin Buckley. Since signing with the promotion, Thomson has gone 12-8-1.
Bonfim is a young, promising prospect who is 15 years younger than Thompson. He enters this bout with an MMA record of 17-1 pro, which includes a 4-1 run in the UFC so far, with three of his wins being submission wins against Khaos Williams, Trevin Giles, and Mounir Lazzez, and one unanimous decision win over Ange Loosa. The only loss he suffered in his career was a second-round TKO loss to Nicolas Dalby in his third UFC fight. Known for his striking and grappling, Bonfim has an impressive 94% finishing rate.
Thompson enters this fight with an MMA record of 17-8-1. He is averaging 4.11 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 46%. Thompson absorbs 3.02 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 55%. In regards to his grappling, Thompson is averaging just 0.25 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 41% and a takedown defense of 63%.
Bonfim is averaging 5.22 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 43%. He is absorbing 3.80 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 65%. His grappling has been elite, averaging 3.68 takedowns every 15 minutes and 2.2 submission attempts during the same period. He has a takedown accuracy of 76% and his takedown defense is 73%.
If Thompson were in his prime, I would have picked him instantly. But now the story is different. Thompson is 42 years old, and it seems that he has lost a step regarding his reaction time. Not only that, but Thompson doesn't have the best takedown defense. On the other hand, he only lost to the best welterweights, and I don't think Bonfim is there yet. Bonfim is a big favorite in this fight, and most fans and experts would likely pick Bonfim to win this fight because of his jiu-jitsu, but I think Thompson now has a sense of urgency as he's gone 4-1 in his last five, and I think he's going to catch Bonfim at some point and knock him out. My prediction is that Thompson will either knock Bonfim out or win via unanimous decision.
DraftKings MMA Featherweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Steve Garcia, $8.4K - vs. Calvin Kattar
Kattar and Garcia are scheduled for a three-round featherweight bout on the main card of UFC Nashville on Saturday. Kattar will look to return to the win column, and Garcia will look to extend his win streak.
He doesn't need much time in the Octagon! ⏳@MeanMachine505 is searching for his SIXTH straight finish at #UFCNashville 👀
[ LIVE SAT 9pmET on ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/VCih89F6Lf
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2025
Garcia has been on a tear, riding a five-fight knockout streak and finishing opponents in under six minutes combined. He made his UFC debut back in 2020 at UFC Fight Night 169 against Luis Pena, but he was unsuccessful as he lost via unanimous decision. He bounced back by defeating Charlie Ontiveros via first-round TKO, but then he got knocked out by Hayisaer Maheshate in his next fight. Since his loss to Maheshate, Garcia has looked outstanding, finishing his next five opponents via TKO/knockout. He was last seen in action back in September at UFC Vegas 97, where he finished Kyle Nelson via first-round TKO.
I think it's safe to say that Kattar has to win this fight if he wants to keep his job, as he lost four in a row, and he hasn't won a fight in three years. Those losses came against elite competition, but the damage is adding up. Since beating Giga Chikadze back in January 2022, Kattar hasn't looked the same. Since beating Chikadze, Kattar suffered decision losses to Josh Emmet, Aljamain Sterling, and, more recently, Youssef Zalal while also injuring his knee against Arnold Allen back in 2022.
Garcia comes into this fight with an MMA record of 17-5 and 6-2 in the UFC. He is averaging 5.04 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 56%. Garcia is absorbing 2.34 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 46%. His grappling is good, averaging 1.17 takedowns every 15 minutes. His takedown accuracy is 40% and his takedown defense is 88%.
Kattar enters this fight with an MMA record of 23-9 and 7-7 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.60 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 38%. Kattar is absorbing 6.62 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 53%. In regards to his grappling, Kattar is averaging 0.36 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 29% and a takedown defense of 77%.
This might be the most important fight of Kattar's career, but I don't think he'll be able to pull off the win. Garcia is a bit younger than Kattar; he hasn't taken as much damage, and he has momentum on his side. Kattar has knockout power and has great boxing, but I don't think that will be enough. Garcia’s pressure and power, and momentum should overwhelm Kattar. I don't believe Garcia will knock Kattar out, but I think he'll win via unanimous decision.
DraftKings MMA Heavyweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Vitor Petrino, $9.6K - vs. Austen Lane
Petrino moves up a weight class to take on Lane on the main card of UFC Nashville on Saturday. Both fighters are aiming to get back in the win column.
Vitor Petrino remains undefeated!!
He gets the tap from Marcin Prachnio to move to 9-0 at #UFC290! pic.twitter.com/spTVDJbuf8
— UFC (@ufc) July 8, 2023
Petrino signed with the UFC off Dana White's Contender Series in 2022 after he finished Rodolfo Bellato via second-round TKO, and then he started his UFC career with four wins in a row. After winning his first four UFC fights and going 11-0, Petrino lost back-to-back fights for the first time in his career. First, he was finished by former title challenger Anthony Smith via first-round submission, and then, he suffered a third-round knockout loss to Dustin Jacoby.
Lane's UFC run has been rocky to say the least. He's got one decision win, three TKO/knockout losses, and a no contest. He earned his UFC contract after going 1-1 on Dana White's Contender Series. His UFC debut ended in an NC, and that was followed by back-to-back knockout losses to Justin Tafa and Jhonata Diniz. In his next fight, Lane defeated Robelis Despaigne and derailed the hype train. He was last seen in action in March at UFC Vegas 103, where he got finished by Mario Pinto via second-round knockout.
Petrino enters this fight with an MMA record of 11-2 and 4-2 in the UFC. He is averaging 2.83 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 45%. Petrino is absorbing 2.71 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 47%. His grappling has been elite, averaging 3.24 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 57% and a takedown defense of 71%.
Lane enters this fight with an MMA record of 13-6 and 1-3 with one NC in the UFC. He is averaging 2.98 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 50%. Lane is absorbing 2.41 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 40%. His grappling has been solid, averaging 1.70 takedowns every 15 minutes. Lane has a takedown accuracy of 28% and his takedown defense is 50%.
Lane will have a reach advantage, but I don't see how he can win this fight. Lane is big and powerful, but Petrino is a more technical fighter and better almost everywhere. It should also be noted that Lane has a suspect chin, and his durability isn't that good. My prediction is that Petrino will knock out Lane in the first or the second round.
