UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs Nascimento main card preview & tips

The main card for UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs Nascimento at the Enterprise Center, St. Louis, is stacked with intriguing matchups worthy of pay-per-view status. Joaquin Buckley will clash with Nursulton Ruziboev, future light heavyweight contenders Alonzo Menifield and Carlos Ulberg collide, and Cuban knockout sensation Robelis Despaigne will be looking for another win inside a minute when facing Waldo Cortes-Acosta. Read on for our UFC St. Louis main card preview and betting predictions.

Derrick Lewis v Rodrigo Nascimento

Derrick Lewis vs Rodrigo Nascimento

Can veteran heavyweight Derrick Lewis show there is still some gas left in the tank when he takes on Brazil’s Rodrigo Nascimento? See our UFC St. Louis main event preview here.

Joaquin Buckley vs Nursulton Ruziboev

Joaquin Buckley vs Nursulton Ruziboev

Joaquin Buckley (18-6-0) boasts a perfect 3-0 record at welterweight after struggling slightly in the UFC’s middleweight division. The 30-year-old packs huge power for his compact physique, and this is a much more effective weapon at 170 pounds. He generates snapping strikes from tight spaces, throws deceptive feints, and will enjoy strong hometown support, which always helps earn the attention of the judging panel.

Nursulton Ruziboev (34-8-2) is 2-0 at UFC level and also moves down a division after looking impressive at middleweight. A tall and rangy athlete, he faces a sizeable weight cut, which may affect his stamina. The Uzbekistan native throws speedy hands with good timing, especially a decisive straight right punch down the middle, and looks a dangerous outsider in this potential Fight of the Night matchup.

Alonzo Menifield vs Carlos Ulberg

Alonzo Menifield vs Carlos Ulberg

Alonzo Menifield (15-3-1) is unbeaten in his last five outings and appears much more focused following a disappointing loss to William Knight in 2022. The 36-year-old now fights in spurts of activity to preserve his gas tank across the duration of a bout. His main weapon is a strong counter right hand, but he tends to telegraph bigger strikes — a weakness that can be exploited by a canny opponent.

Carlos Ulberg (10-1-0) is a former kickboxing champion who looks like a future contender in the UFC light heavyweight division. The 33-year-old dropped his UFC debut after a costly error but has looked unstoppable since with five straight wins. The Kiwi is a technically sound sniper who cuts angles with deft footwork, and he is just a win away from announcing himself to the MMA world.

Diego Ferreira vs Mateusz Rębecki

Diego Ferreira vs Mateusz Rębecki

Diego Ferreira (18-5-0) found a much-needed win in his most recent appearance after a string of losses threatened to end his MMA career. The 39-year-old has always been small for the lightweight division, and a drop in striking volume in recent years might mean he is nearing the end of the road. This weakness has been compounded by waning cardio as he inches toward retirement.

Mateusz Rebecki (19-1-0) is on a 16-fight win streak, including three since making his UFC debut in 2023. The rising potential contender is a short-priced favourite with online bookmakers to continue this run of form. The 31-year-old southpaw appears to be improving fast, combing relentless pressure, stinging inside leg kicks, a good wrestling base, and an ability to walk through shots to land.

Alex Caceres vs Sean Woodson

Alex Caceres vs Sean Woodson

Alex Caceres (21-14-0) is a UFC veteran who has hung around the top 15 in his division for many years. The 35-year-old is an unorthodox striker who finds strange angles of attack while bouncing in and out of range. He is also an excellent submission grappler with seven professional wins via that method, but he will need to be at his wily best against a rising talent in St. Louis.

Sean Woodson (11-1-1) is undefeated in his last five bouts and appears ready for a push into the rankings. The 31-year-old is big for the featherweight class, standing at an imposing 6’2’’. The American seamlessly switches stances, rips jarring body shots and step-in knees, and instinctively rolls his shoulder when being attacked. His boxing is slick and technical, and he will enjoy an advantage in the standup portion of this contest.

Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Robelis Despaigne

Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Robelis Despaigne

Waldo Cortes-Acosta (11-1-0) is 4-1 at this level after tidy wins over Andrei Arlovski and Lucasz Brzeski, but this is a tough assignment. The Dominican fights behind a solid jab, which is his main — and often only — offensive weapon, but can present a static target for leg kicks and well-timed punches. Cortes-Acosta is a genuine heavyweight who tops the scales at the 265-pound limit, but he might be in for a rough night.

Robelis Despaigne (5-0-0) is an undefeated 35-year-old karate striker with Olympic credentials. The Cuban’s last four fights have lasted 12 seconds, three seconds, four seconds, and 18 seconds. He moves with lightning speed, and an 87-inch reach means he can land from anywhere in the octagon. The key to his peerless knockout ability rests on his balance, which he somehow maintains while lunging with deadly power shots.

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