The future of the UFC heavyweight division has a name
… and it is Tallison Teixeira
The MMA Notebook runs every Friday.
In this edition:
Tallison Teixeira ready to claim the heavyweight division as his own
Calvin Kattar seeking to keep UFC career alive
New CEO for the PFL
Fight picks
Tallison Teixeira will be tested against Derrick Lewis
Tallison Teixeira has eight finishes in eight fights. He’ll seek to extend his undefeated streak tomorrow against his toughest opponent to date–Derrick Lewis.
There are many within the UFC who will be quietly rooting for Teixeira (8-0). The heavyweight division is in desperate search of new talent, and there is reason to believe that the 6’7” fighter is going to fill that giant void.
Standing in Teixeira’s way is Lewis (27-12). Lewis, 40, is a decade-and-a-half older than Teixeira. In addition to being 15 years older than Teixeira, Lewis also has 15 knockouts. He has history knocking out taller opponents, which he did to the 6’7” Alexander Volkov and the 6’7” Travis Browne.
Lewis is not the same dominant force he once was, yet the man with the most knockouts in UFC history still possesses outrageous power. Teixeira has legitimate size, along with a healthy mix of speed and power. But he has hardly been tested throughout his career, yet to even see the second round of a fight.
The most impressive win Teixeira has produced took place in February, when he obliterated Justin Tafa in only 35 seconds. Tafa (7-5) is not the second coming of Randy Couture, but for Teixeira, the win still represented a step in the right direction. If he is able to dominate Lewis in a similar manner, then that will immediately seize the fight world’s attention.
This will be the first real indication of whether Teixeira is a legitimate contender–or if he is all hype with no substance. It has the makings of a fun (and quick) fight, one where Teixeira should knock out Lewis and prove he belongs in the Octagon.
Calvin Kattar needs to win… or else
In January of 2022, Calvin Kattar absolutely annihilated Giga Chikadze.
It appeared Kattar had recovered from the shellacking he’d absorbed a year prior at the hands of Max Holloway. At that point, Kattar had won three of his last four, and he was one victory away from a shot at the featherweight title.
Then the bottom fell out.
Kattar lost a controversial decision against Josh Emmett. So instead of fighting for the interim title, he fought Arnold Allen, a fight where he tore his ACL. Following his arduous rehab, he took a humbling loss against Aljamain Sterling, one where he looked overmatched and overwhelmed against Sterling’s grappling. Most recently, Kattar lost to Youssef Zalal in February, coming alive late yet still dropping the bout by unanimous decision.
The 37-year-old Kattar (23-9) is effectively putting his UFC career on the line tomorrow against Steve Garcia, who has won his last five fights. Garcia (17-5) brings heavy punching power, and he enters this bout as the odds favorite… but it is the best matchup Kattar has had since Chikadze.
If Kattar can withstand Garcia’s early onslaught, he should be able to win this fight. We’ll see how much fight IQ plays into this bout, and we’ll learn in real time how much Kattar has remaining in the tank.
A loss will likely end his UFC career. While the end is inevitably coming for Kattar in the Octagon, I don’t think Garcia is the one to do it.
PFL hires new CEO
Peter Murray is out as PFL CEO, and he has been replaced by John Martin.
The former Chairman and CEO of Turner LLC, where he oversaw a portfolio of cable networks, Martin will prove his worth by securing a new media rights deal for PFL. With an impending sports void on TBS and TNT as the NBA moves on to greener pastures, Martin will look to tap into his network resources to make PFL as prominent as possible in their next broadcast deal.
As to whether this leads to any significant change for the promotion, this is a step in the right direction. It is vital for the industry as a whole that PFL finds a way to flourish, especially considering that Bellator no longer exists in its former fashion.
It is unrealistic for PFL to attempt to overtake UFC. But that should not be the objective. MMA needs as many thriving promotions, which makes the landscape better for fighters and fans. Another strong media rights deal for the PFL will benefit the industry as a whole, and that is why Martin is here as the new CEO.
Pick ‘Em Section
UFC on ESPN heavyweight bout: Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira
Pick: Tallison Teixeira
UFC on ESPN welterweight bout: Stephen Thompson vs. Gabriel Bonfim
Pick: Gabriel Bonfim
UFC on ESPN featherweight bout: Calvin Kattar vs. Steve Garcia
Pick: Calvin Kattar
UFC on ESPN featherweight bout: Nate Landwehr vs. Morgan Charrière
Pick: Nate Landwehr
UFC on ESPN heavyweight bout: Vitor Petrino vs. Austen Lane
Pick: Vitor Petrino
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