A cursory glance at the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight rankings reveals a relative unknown on the rise: Rodrigo Nascimento.
The American Top Team export will look to take the next step in his development when he challenges former Legacy Fighting Championship titleholder Derrick Lewis in the UFC on ESPN 56 main event this Saturday at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Nascimento, 31, enters the Octagon having rattled off consecutive victories over Tanner Boser, Ilir Latifi and Don’Tale Mayes, and he sounds like a man who intends to build on his momentum at Lewis’ expense.