UFC Fight Night Night is going down this Sunday at the sold-out Enterprise Centre in St Louis, where ranked heavyweights Derrick Lewis and Rodrigo Nascimento are set to headline a quality Fight Night Card.
Co-Main Event action will see number 11 ranked Welterweight Joaquin Buckley and unranked Nursulton Ruziboev square off in a card-defining Co-Main.
The big fella finally has an opportunity at a ranked opponent, when New Zealand’s Carlos Ulberg and Alonzo Menifield will swing to the fences to determine who walks out with the number 11 Light Heavyweight ranking.
Tell your mum you’ll be late for Mother’s Day Lunch as this will be one of the most entertaining Fight Night cards of the year and my thoughts are down below.
Derrick Lewis steps back into the octagon for the first time this year, hoping to get a win under his belt.
Lewis has been on a dry spell, having only won one of his last five bouts.
Tai Tuivasa, Sergei Pavlovich and Serghei Spivac all made quick work of the Black Beast before Lewis got one back with a blistering KO of Marcos Rogerio De Lima.
Brazilian Rodrigo Nascimento is walking into the octagon with a record of 11 wins, one loss and one draw, which also includes four on the trot.
Nascimento will do anything for the dub!
The try-hard loves his pressure and his wrestling skills will be crucial in order to outclass Derrick Lewis.
Now I understand he may not be as refined as one of the elites in the Heavyweight division, but he’s an absolute workhorse can throw some if he can’t get you to the ground.
Now if Nascimento gets his way against Lewis, we’re in for a tame Main Event, and that will be the play for me.
1 Unit on Rodrigo Nascimento to win via Points
Nascimento has won each of his last three pro fights via points.
Co-Main event action will be St. Louis’ very own, Joaquin Buckley and the dominant Nursulton Ruziboev.
Now the reason why we have the matchup is because Buckley crashed the UFC 300 press conference and kept hassling CEO Dana White to get him on this card and to no surprise, it worked!
We’re hoping that the weight cut won’t be difficult for either one as they both used to be middleweight and recently fought on the same card back in March.
And with Ruziboev dropping down to 170 on short notice, it is somewhat of a concern for me, but I have no doubt that Buckley will take this bout if his opponent is 170 or 185 pounds.
Home town hero Buckley has my pick this weekend and a play on knockout is how I see it playing out.
2 Unit on Joaquin Buckley to win via KO/TKO
Buckley has won 2 of his last 3 professional fights via KO/TKO
Black Jag finally has the opportunity to make the top 15!
New Zealand’s Carlos Ulberg will receive his first shot at a ranked opponent this weekend as he’s set to dual with number 11 ranked Light Heavyweight Alonzo Menifield.
Ulberg is coming off a dominant performance against Da Woon Jung at UFC 293 in Sydney, showing his strength, endurance, KO power and grappling skills.
Menifield will have a task and a half ahead of him!
Ulberg is on a five-fight win streak and I don’t picture him losing this bout.
LETS GO CARLOS!
2 Units on Ulberg to win via KO/TKO or Submission
Carlos Ulberg has finished each of his last four opponents.