Highlights! Tuco Tokkos spoils Junior Tafa’s light heavyweight debut with slick choke | UFC Nashville

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Dan Hiergesell is an expert voice who serves as MMAmania.com's weekend editor, covering mixed martial arts (MMA) for more than 15 years, getting featured on programs such as Countdown to UFC and SiriusXM Fight Club, among others.

Tuco Tokkos spoiled the light heavyweight debut of Junior Tafa earlier tonight (Sat., July 12, 2025) at UFC Nashville LIVE on ESPN/ESPN+ from inside Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., stopping the former heavyweight with a second-round submission (arm-triangle choke).

Tafa slimmed down quite a bit to make his 205-pound crossover and he looked primed to do good work on Saturday night. At least the oddsmakers thought so. Others knew Tokkos had the capability of using his grappling to get inside and score some takedowns. After all, the Tafa brothers aren’t known for their takedown defense.

Most of the first round was dedicated to Tokkos’ wrestling and top pressure. Tafa was able to stand up almost every time he was taken down, but he kept finding himself on his back. Tafa was able to land some really good shots to begin the second round, but Tokkos once again dragged the action to the ground and tired Tafa out.

Eventually, Tokkos was able to grab a hold of a tight arm-triangle choke. Tafa defended for a few moments before Tokkos readjusted and put the finishing touches on a nice submission finish. Check out the video highlights in the above player!

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HEAVY LEATHER! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) crashes Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sat., July 12, 2025, with UFC Nashville. Record-setting knockout artist, Derrick Lewis, collides with undefeated up-and-comer, Tallison Teixeira, in a blistering main event mashup scheduled for five, five-minute rounds. In UFC Nashville’s co-main event, former welterweight title challenger, Stephen Thompson, locks horns with once-beaten Brazilian bruiser, Gabriel Bonfim, with a spot in the welterweight Top 15 up for grabs.

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