Tallison Teixeira: Can the giant shut the lights out on Pavlovich?

Two meters and three centimeters of Brazilian muscle moving at full speed—that doesn't just walk down the street, it clears it. Tallison Teixeira is the kind of physical anomaly that makes UFC scouts stutter and insurance companies break into a cold sweat. At just 26, the colossus from Vila Velha is about to face the ultimate paternity test of the heavyweight division: surviving the hailstorm known as Sergei Pavlovich.

🥊 Quick Stats

Name: Tallison Teixeira
Record: 9-1-0
Signature trait: NBA center physique with the coordination of a capoeira dancer.

The High-Five Block

Last 5 results:

• ✅ Austen Lane - KO (Punch) Round 1 (2:14)
• ✅ Shamil Gaziev - TKO (Referee Stoppage) Round 1 (4:05)
• ❌ Karl Williams - Decision (Unanimous) Round 3 (5:00)
• ✅ Hamdy Abdelwahab - TKO (Punches) Round 2 (1:45)
• ✅ Arthur Lopes - KO (Punches) Round 1 (1:57)

The Origin Story

Before becoming a highlight-reel knockout machine, Tallison Teixeira was just a kid who grew way too fast for his own good in the state of Espírito Santo. No Olympic wrestling background or All-American football pedigree here. Teixeira is a pure martial arts product. To channel a body that was sprouting up too quickly, he walked into a Muay-Thai gym.

It was love at first sight. With his endless reach, he quickly realized that keeping people at bay with kicks and planting knees into their liver in the clinch was excellent therapy. He soon added Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to his arsenal to make sure no one could take him down and steal his lunch money. The result? A hybrid monster, built for modern violence.

The Williams spanking and the giant's wake-up call

The world discovered the phenomenon on September 3, 2024, at the Dana White's Contender Series. Facing Arthur Lopes, Teixeira launched a missile in the very first round. With a contract in hand, the UFC boss dropped a legendary line: "This kid is an absolute monster." The hype train left the station, but it quickly hit a brick wall named Karl Williams in June 2025.

Williams, with his crafty eyes and low center of gravity, decided to take the lanky giant for a trip to high altitude. Teixeira struggled, gassed out, and lost his professional virginity via unanimous decision. A free wrestling lesson. But rather than sulking, the Brazilian went back to the grind. Shamil Gaziev and Austen Lane paid the price: two first-round finishes, serving as a reminder that the giant has a sharp memory and heavy hands.

Useless Trivia

• The scale's nightmare: When he was younger, Tallison weighed nearly 140 kg. It was while trying to lose the gut that he discovered he could throw hands. Today, he has to cut weight to hit the heavyweight limit (120 kg).
• The boss's favorite: Dana White personally fast-tracked his file after his DWCS appearance, terrified by the kid's coordination at only 24.
• Condor wingspan: With a 2.08m reach, he can theoretically shut your lights out from the next zip code.

The MMX Take

This fight against Sergei Pavlovich at UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Figueiredo is a Richter-scale event for the division. Pavlovich is the scariest gatekeeper in the organization, a guy who hands out concussions like flyers. The Russian has ape-like reach (2.13m) despite his more modest height (1.91m). Teixeira won't be able to rely solely on his size.

The key stat that makes you sweat? Teixeira's striking volume: 5.12 significant strikes per minute with 56% accuracy. That's massive for a heavyweight. But his 66% takedown defense remains suspect, even if Pavlovich couldn't care less and would rather trade haymakers in the center of the cage. The game plan is simple but suicidal: Teixeira must use his jab like a piston to keep Pavlovich at bay and survive the first three minutes, where the Russian is at his most lethal.

Our bar-stool prediction? We love the young Brazilian's audacity, but Pavlovich has the experience of the big stages (Jones, Aspinall, Volkov). The Russian's hand speed will likely catch Teixeira off guard in the opening exchanges. We're going with Sergei Pavlovich by TKO in the first round. A baptism by fire that's just a bit too hot for now.

Tallison Teixeira has the profile to rule tomorrow, but today, the throne of the heavy hitters still belongs to the veterans. Do you think he'll win his next fight? Come place your bets and challenge your buddies on MMX.

📋 On the same card: Check out all the profiles for UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Figueiredo