Derrick Lewis got the job done against Rodrigo Nascimento a little earlier than he anticipated in the UFC on ESPN 56 main event.
After engaging his Brazilian opponent in the clinch in the first two rounds, “The Black Beast” shifted gears in the third stanza, flooring Nascimento with an overhand right and pounding away with follow-up punches until the bout was halted at the 49-second mark.
“I was really waiting for the fifth round then explode on him, but the opportunity was there,” Lewis said at the post-fight press conference.