Oh boy, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is hitting the road again. This time, they’re setting up the octagon in St. Louis at the Enterprise Center. It’s only their second time in the city. Remember the last visit? Jeremy Stephens absolutely demolished Doo Ho Choi. This Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 56 is looking spicy with a bunch of local talents and some fresh faces. And guess what? The main event is a heavyweight showdown that’s got everyone talking.
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s talk rankings. These fighters aren’t just throwing punches for fun; they’re climbing the Sherdog Rankings ladder.
Now, onto the main dish: Derrick Lewis versus Rodrigo Nascimento. You’ve got Lewis, who’s kinda been in a rough patch lately, only snagging one win in his last five fights. On the flip side, Nascimento is riding a sweet three-fight winning streak. Coming from Dana White’s Contender Series, the guy’s record is pretty solid, with a 4-1 and one no contest. He’s unranked now, but beating Lewis could catapult him into the spotlight. Lewis, by the way, is sitting at No.14 in the heavyweight division.
Oh, and did you hear about Joaquin Buckley? The St. Louis native crashed the UFC 300 press conference, begging to headline in his hometown. The UFC kinda said yes, but really, it’s all about Lewis and Nascimento. Buckley’s got guts, though.
Switching gears to the prelims, we’ve got Tabatha Ricci facing off against Tecia Pennington. Ricci’s coming off a split decision loss to Lupita Godinez at UFC 295. Pennington, on the other hand, is jumping back into the fray after a two-year break. She had a baby with Raquel Pennington, the UFC bantamweight champ. Talk about a power couple. Pennington used to be a regular in the Top 15 strawweights, but she’s been out of the game for a bit. Beating Ricci could be her ticket back.
So, there you have it. UFC on ESPN 56 is shaping up to be a night of comebacks, debuts, and maybe a few surprises. Can’t wait to see how it all goes down.