MMA Preview – Derrick Lewis vs Rodrigo Nascimento at UFC on ESPN 56
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
DERRICK LEWIS VS RODRIGO NASCIMENTO FACTS
When is UFC on ESPN 56? Saturday 11th May, 2024 - 22:00 (UK)
Where is UFC on ESPN 56? Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC on ESPN 56? Click here to buy tickets for UFC on ESPN
What channel is UFC on ESPN 56 on? TNT Sports 2
Where can I stream UFC on ESPN 56? TNT Sports subscribers can stream the fight online via the TNT Sports website and Discovery+
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
DERRICK LEWIS VS RODRIGO NASCIMENTO LOWDOWN
Derrick Lewis (27-12(1)) headlines his 12th UFC card. 2023 was a mixed bag which is very typical for the knockout king. He started the year by getting submitted by Sergey Spivac. He then bounced back by extending his UFC knockout record to 14 with a showstopping running flying knee from the bell followed by pounding out Marcos Rogerio de Lima at UFC 291. However, he then received familiar wrestling lesson, this time from Jailton Almeida who grinded out an uneventful unanimous decision.
Rodrigo Nascimento (11-1(1)) headlines his first UFC card coming off three decision wins in a row. After getting starched by Chris Daukaus (2020), he TKO’d Alan Baudot (2021) which was later overturned to a ‘no contest’ after failing a drugs test. However, he has added Tanner Boser (2022), Ilir Latifi (2023) and Don’Tale Mayes (2023) to the dub sheet to climb up the shallow rankings.
DERRICK LEWIS VS RODRIGO NASCIMENTO PREDICTION
Like all Lewis’ fights, the question is whether he can stay on his feet and find a home for one of his missiles. He is deceptively dynamic and incredibly hard to take down while possessing the touch of death in his hands.
Nascimento has the ability to take Lewis down and submit him. He is a good grappler, but Lewis has swotted away much higher calibre grapplers. If he shows motivated, he should keep the fight on the feet long enough to land a clean head shot.
There is value on Nascimento as the underdog, but he just has not proved himself against someone as dangerous as the knockout king.
Prediction: Lewis via KO/TKO
Value bet: Nascimento via Submission
