In the UFC's return to St. Louis for the first time in six years, heavyweight fan favorite Derrick Lewis will headline the Fight Night card against rising Brazilian prospect Rodrigo Nascimento.
Lewis (27-12, 18-10 in UFC) has struggled to find consistent success in the Octagon since 2021, winning just two of his last seven fights. Lewis last captivated the audience with another knockout win at UFC 291 against Marcos Rogerio de Lima but has since picked up another loss in the main event of UFC São Paulo against Jailton Almeida.
Nascimento (11-1 with one no-contest, 4-1 with one no-contest in UFC) debuted in the heavyweight rankings in late 2023 and has since picked up a second win over Don'Tale Mayes at UFC São Paulo.