Derrick Lewis, a favorite among many MMA fans, makes his first Octagon appearance of 2024 as he takes on fellow heavyweight contender Rodrigo Nascimento in the main event at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in St. Louis (7 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+, with prelims at 4 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN+).
Lewis has lost four of his past five fights, including a unanimous decision loss to Jailton Almeida in his most recent bout last November. Nascimento enters this bout riding a three-fight winning streak, each of those wins coming by decision. Neither fighter holds a spot in ESPN's divisional rankings.
Brett Okamoto spoke to Xtreme Couture MMA coach Eric Nicksick to get his perspective on the UFC main event. ESPN's betting expert Ian Parker adds his insights and analysis on the main event and other intriguing bets he likes on the card.
Editor's note: Responses have been edited for brevity and clarity.