Derrick Lewis (Photo by Pedro Vilela/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The UFC heads to the Enterprise Center in St. Louis for its next fight card. In the main event, Derrick Lewis will clash with Brazil’s Rodrigo Nascimento in a battle of ranked heavyweights.
Local up-and-comer Joaquin Buckley will get the stiffest test of his career in the co-main event. Buckley faces talented Uzbekistan finisher Nursulton Ruziboev in what has the potential to be an explosive encounter.
Here is a look at the entire card with viewing info. Note the early start time for the main card and prelims.
UFC St. Louis Main Event On ESPN/ESPN+ - 7pm ET
- Heavyweight - Derrick Lewis vs. Rodrigo Nascimento
- Welterweight - Joaquin Buckley vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
- Light Heavyweight - Alonzo Menifield vs. Carlos Ulberg
- Lightweight - Diego Ferreira vs. Mateusz Rębecki
- Featherweight - Alex Caceres vs. Sean Woodson
- Heavyweight - Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Robelis Despaigne
UFC St. Louis ‘Prelims’ Card on ESPN/ESPN+ (4 p.m. ET)
- Lightweight - Chase Hooper vs. Viacheslav Borshchev
- Lightweight - Terrance McKinney vs. Esteban Ribovics
- Strawweight - Tabatha Ricci vs. Tecia Pennington
- Welterweight - Billy Goff vs. Trey Waters
- Welterweight - Jared Gooden vs. Kevin Jousset
- Women’s Flyweight - JJ Aldrich vs. Veronica Hardy
Lewis is Still a Draw
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 04: Derrick Lewis has his hands wrapped prior to his fight during the ... [+]
Is Lewis still a serious title contender in the UFC? Probably not, but thanks to his magnetic personality, KO power, and unpredictable nature in the Octagon, he remains a fan favorite.
Lewis figures to have a large cheering section in Missouri as he takes on rising heavyweight Nascimento. Lewis has seemingly taken on a gatekeeper role in the division, and Nascimento is next to have his mettle tested.
Counting his 2019 bout with Michal Martinak, Nascimento is 5-1 in the UFC and 12-1 overall. Nascimento ranks No. 15, and Lewis ranks No. 12, so the Brazilian can move up in the rankings.
He’ll need to avoid Lewis’ power and perhaps take the fight to the ground, where he should have a decided advantage in grappling.
Buckley Has A Massive Test on His Hands
ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 30: Joaquin Buckley poses for a portrait after his victory during ... [+]
Thanks to a three-fight win streak, including a TKO win over Vicente Luque in his last outing, Buckley is on a roll. He has won three fights in a row, and his explosive athleticism is seemingly marrying well with an increase in skill and poise.
However, his opponent in St. Louis is the massive and skilled Ruziboev. At 6-foot-5, Ruziboev is one of the largest welterweights in mixed martial arts.
The weigh-ins on Friday will be a focal point of attention, particularly regarding Ruziboev's ability to consistently compete at 170 pounds. Interestingly, despite Ruziboev's seven-inch height advantage, both fighters share the same reach at 76”.
Stylistically and physically, Buckley-Ruziboev will be a fascinating matchup. If Buckley emerges victorious, he could be in a position to challenge a Top-5 welterweight in his next fight.
Another Heavyweight Battle to Watch
Robelis Despaigne (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Two more exciting up-and-coming heavyweights in the UFC will clash to open the main card. Waldo Cortes-Acosta faces the explosive Cuban Robelis Despaigne in the latter’s second fight in the UFC.
Despaigne destroyed veteran Josh Parisian in 18 seconds in his promotional debut in March. Despaigne’s five-fight pro MMA career has seen him finish every opponent in the first round and the last four inside 20 seconds.
Cortes-Acosta is 11-1 as a pro and 5-1 in the UFC. He represents a significant step up in competition for Despaigne. We will learn a bit about both men in this fight for as long as it lasts.
