Derrick Lewis vs. Rodrigo Nascimento squared off in a Heavyweight contest earlier tonight (Sat. May 11, 2024) from Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, for UFC St. Louis. In vintage “Black Beast” fashion, Lewis secured his 15th UFC knockout win.
Lewis opened the fight with a big head kick, and then the two traded blows in the dirty boxing range. The fight moved to the clinch, where Lewis landed a brief trip takedown. Nascimento used the double-collar tie to good effect and landed some knees before the duo broke apart.
Lewis was able to land one good right hand before the Brazilian closed distance again and secured a trip takedown. He established half guard and went to work with chipping punches. Slowly, he advanced position into mount, but Lewis immediately reversed him. The clock ran up before Lewis could do much from top position, however.
Lewis landed a good counter punch early in the second, but he couldn’t help himself in clinch up again. Still, Lewis did well to pick his moments and land hard shots from close quarters. Every so often, he would explode and rattle Nascimento with heavy combinations. Just as he seemed to be closing in on the fence, Lewis attempted a terrible trip takedown and basically fell over, allowing Nascimento to jump on his back! No choke emerged, but Nascimento did finish the second round on top, landing hard elbows.
Early in the third, both men looked tired. That didn’t stop Lewis from connecting with a clean overhand direct to the temple, however, and Nascimento’s legs were gone in an instant! Nascimento collapsed to the floor, and despite his best efforts, he couldn’t survive the ensuing onslaught.
Despite some extra takedown attempts, this was pretty classic Derrick Lewis! The great gift of “The Blast Beast” has always been his ability to endure bad positions and grueling rounds while still throwing brutal heat. Nascimento won a lot of minutes of this fight, but Lewis stayed in the game and waited for the moment that his power changed everything.
With Derrick Lewis, it only takes one.
Result: Derrick Lewis defeats Rodrigo Nascimento via third-round knockout
For complete UFC St. Louis: “Lewis vs. Nascimento” results and play-by-play, click HERE!