UFC is again on the highway this weekend with an occasion headed to St. Louis. The promotion touches down on the Enterprise Heart with a heavyweight foremost occasion in tow as fan-favorite Derrick Lewis seems to be to proceed his historic knockout file towards the rising contender in Brazilian Rodrigo Nascimento. All of it goes down on Saturday evening from Missouri.
Lewis (27-12) pursues a fifteenth UFC KO on Saturday to construct on his legend as the corporate’s most prolific KO artist. “The Black Beast” has exchanged blows with 4 UFC heavyweight champions (together with interim) however appears to be declining competitively. Lewis hasn’t notched consecutive wins since 2021 and is 2-5 in his final seven fights. Most not too long ago, Lewis was overwhelmed by Jailton Almeida’s grappling for 5 rounds. Lewis, 39, insists he feels higher than ever regardless of the tough stretch of performances.
“My coaches and different folks say when you get to 40 every little thing begins to decelerate however that is the perfect I’ve felt,” Lewis instructed CBS Sports activities. “These final two fights are the perfect I’ve felt main as much as a battle within the coaching camp. I simply really feel nice.”
Nascimento (11-1) has the mindset of the youthful fighter on a profitable streak. Nascimento headlines his first UFC card following three consecutive determination wins. The “Contender Sequence” alum is primarily a submission finisher however anticipates he’ll have the benefit in each avenue of the battle. It is plenty of confidence for a fighter who has by no means gone greater than three rounds going through his most completed opponent but.
“I’ve some ways to beat him,” Nascimento instructed reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “Placing him on the bottom is only one extra means. I can strike, I can knock him out. I can end him, or I can battle all 5 rounds.
“He has a very good identify and good hype on him, however after this Saturday, everybody goes to know my identify as a result of I’ll beat him.”
Try the complete interview with Derrick Lewis beneath.
Under is the remainder of the battle card for Saturday with the most recent odds earlier than we get to a prediction and choose on the primary occasion.
UFC Struggle Evening card, odds
| Derrick Lewis -155 | Rodrigo Nascimento +130 | Heavyweight |
| Joaquin Buckley -135 | Nursulton Ruziboev +115 | Welterweight |
| Carlos Ulberg -270 | Alonzo Menifield +220 | Gentle heavyweight |
| Mateusz Rebecki -420 | Diego Ferreira -320 | Light-weight |
| Sean Woodson -205 | Alex Caceres +175 | Featherweight |
| Robelis Despaigne -235 | Waldo Cortes-Acosta +195 | Heavyweight |
UFC Struggle Evening viewing data
Date: Might 11 | Begin time: 7 p.m. ET (foremost card)
Location: Enterprise Heart — St. Louis
TV channel: ESPN+
Prediction
Derrick Lewis vs. Rodrigo Nascimento: It is at all times a danger selecting Lewis at this stage. The person clearly has record-setting KO energy however his sturdiness has diminished. The 2-time title challenger has been stopped in 4 of his final seven appearances. Nascimento could be smart to take the battle into the later rounds to scale back what KO risk stays. The issue is I am unimpressed with Nascimento. He is coming off three consecutive determination wins, together with cut up choices towards former mild heavyweight fighters Ilir Latifi and Tanner Boser. They weren’t inspiring performances. Nascimento began his UFC run properly sufficient — ignoring a fast KO loss to Chris Daukus — however his incapacity to win emphatically harm his inventory. Lewis can nonetheless thump. Regardless of his technical limitations, he has tons of expertise combating higher ability units than Nascimento. I see KO quantity 15 en route. Lewis through KO2
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