Rodrigo Nascimento’s Master Plan Unfolds

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.

“We have our path to victory, our game plan to reach the belt, and this is another step on that road,” he told Sherdog.com. “We’re taking it step by step. I feel I’m where I need to be. Derrick will be yet another step on my way to the Top 10 and to the Top 5. I have much respect for him. I know he’s very tough, but you can be sure that I’ll beat him on Saturday. He’s a family man. He has children and dreams just like I do, but I’m winning this fight and, God willing, a bonus on top of that.”

Lewis has a reputation to uphold as the UFC’s all-time leader in knockouts. However, the 39-year-old New Orleans native finds himself in a bit of a tailspin, with losses in five of his past seven bouts. Lewis last appeared at UFC Fight Night 231, where he dropped a unanimous decision to Jailton Almeida on Nov. 4. On paper, he seems to be as vulnerable as ever.

“I’m ready to beat him in any scenario,” Nascimento said. “I can fight five rounds. I can knock him out, submit him or win by decision. I’m confident that during the fight I’ll find the path to victory. Derrick already fought for the belt. He’s faced several top fighters in our weight class. To fight someone like him is a special opportunity for me. It shows that our work is paying off. Derrick is truly tough, skilled and vicious, and he has lost some weight to become more explosive. I’m sure it will be a difficult fight, but we’ll walk away with a victory.”

Nascimento split his training camp between the Boxe Velha Guarda gym in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, as he attempts to balance caution with aggression against a historically dangerous opponent. Despite his struggles of late, Lewis is not yet a year removed from a sensational 33-second technical knockout of Marcos Rogerio de Lima.

“We’re always improving,” he said. “With every fight, we evolve. There’s no way to avoid that. We take his last three fights as a rough measure, but since everyone changes from fight to fight, there’s no way to know for sure what he’ll bring. The biggest danger, no doubt, are his heavy hands and his unpredictability, but we’ve cooked together a good strategy and we’re ready for any situation. We won’t be surprised.”

Nascimento now approaches his headlining assignment opposite Lewis with tunnel vision. He believes to do so otherwise would be unwise.

“My plan is to beat up Derrick,” he said. “He’s the next step in my future plans. That’s all I’m thinking about now. After I defeat him, I’ll think about what’s next.”