Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson

UFC on ESPN 56: How to watch Derrick Lewis vs. Rodrigo Nascimento, start time, St. Louis fight card, odds, more

The UFC heads to St. Louis this week with a former heavyweight title challenger in the main event.

Here’s how to watch UFC on ESPN 56 with big men in the headlining spot, plus welterweight and light heavyweight sluggers on the main card.

Broadcast and streaming info

Brendan Fitzgerald, Laura Sanko, Michael Bisping

UFC on ESPN 56 has a main card that starts at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. The preliminary card streams on ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET.

Stay tuned to MMA Junkie for further broadcast details this week.

Main event: Derrick Lewis

Derrick Lewis vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima

Derrick Lewis (27-12 MMA, 18-10 UFC), a two-time heavyweight title challenger, is in the midst of the roughest stretch of his career. The Houston resident has dropped four of his past five, including three straight by stoppage at one point. Still, the 39-year-old remains one of the most popular fighters on the roster and hold the UFC record for career knockouts with 14.

Main event: Rodrigo Nascimento

Nov 4, 2023; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Don’tale Mayes (blue gloves) fights Rodrigo Nascimento (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ibirapuera Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports

Rodrigo Nascimento (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), a 31-year-old from Brazil, is on a different current trajectory than Lewis. After a TKO win over Alan Baudot was overturned nearly two years ago, Nascimento has three straight decisions over Tanner Boser, Ilir Latifi and Don’Tale Mayes. But Lewis will be his biggest test yet.

Co-main event: Joaquin Buckley vs. Nursulton Ruziboev

Mar 30, 2024; Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA; Vicente Luque (red gloves) fights Joaquin Buckley (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Boardwalk Hall. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

After a lengthy middleweight run, Joaquin Buckley (18-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) returned to 170 pounds in 2023 and snapped a two-fight skid with a bonus-winning KO of Andre Fialho. He followed that up with a win over Alex Morono for some momentum at welterweight, then took out Vicente Luque just six weeks ago.

Mar 30, 2024; Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA; Nursulton Ruziboev (red gloves) fights Sedriques Dumas (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Boardwalk Hall. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Nursulton Ruziboev (34-8-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) hasn’t lost a fight in more than four years. The Uzbekistan native came to the UFC in 2023 and took out Brunno Ferreira in 77 seconds in his promotional debut for a $50,000 bonus. His follow-up was a first-round dismantling of Sedriques Dumas for his 10th straight win, all of which have been stoppages, and it came just two fights before Buckley’s win over Luque.

Featured bout: Alonzo Menifield vs. Carlos Ulberg

Dec 16, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alonzo Menifield (red gloves) fights Dustin Jacoby (blue gloves) during UFC 296 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Alonzo Menifield (15-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) has been on a roll at light heavyweight at 4-0-1 his past five fights. The four wins all came in Las Vegas. The draw was on the road in Australia in a fight in which he was deducted a point.

Sep 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Carlos Ulberg (red gloves) prepares to fight Da Woon Jung (not pictured) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Ulberg (9-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has five straight wins, four of which have been by stoppage. After a submission of Da-un Jung with just 11 seconds left this past September, he’ll take on his most accomplished opponent yet in Menifield.

UFC on ESPN 56 main card betting odds

Alex Caceres

MAIN CARD (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Derrick Lewis (-150) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (+125)
  • Joaquin Buckley (-155) vs. Nursulton Ruziboev (+135)
  • Alonzo Menifield (+180) vs. Carlos Ulberg (-220)
  • Diego Ferreira (+240) vs. Mateusz Rebecki (-300)
  • Alex Caceres (+155) vs. Sean Woodson (-185)
  • Waldo Cortes-Acosta (+140) vs. Robelis Despaigne (-165)

UFC on ESPN 56 prelim betting odds

Aug 7, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Tecia Torres (red gloves) fights Angela Hill (blue gloves) during UFC 265 at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)

  • Viacheslav Borshchev (-170) vs. Chase Hooper (+140)
  • Terrance McKinney (+155) vs. Esteban Ribovics (-185)
  • Tecia Pennington (+110) vs. Tabatha Ricci (-130)
  • Billy Goff (+140) vs. Trey Waters (-170)
  • Jake Hadley (-175) vs. Charles Johnson (+145)
  • Jared Gooden (+195) vs. Kevin Jousset (-240)
  • JJ Aldrich (+120) vs. Veronica Hardy (-140)
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.