UFC on ESPN 56 predictions: Can Rodrigo Nascimento topple Derrick Lewis in St. Louis?

The UFC is in St. Louis for the first time in more than six years, and just the second time in its history, and a company record-holder is at the top of the lineup.

UFC on ESPN 56 (ESPN/ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

Get pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.

Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Robelis Despaigne

Robelis Despaigne

Records: Cortes-Acosta (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Despaigne (19-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Past five: Cortes-Acosta 4-1, Despaigne 5-0
Division: Heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 05.06.24): Cortes-Acosta +205, Despaigne -250
Junkie pick results: Despaigne 10, Cortes-Acosta 1

Alex Caceres vs. Sean Woodson

Jan 20, 2024; Toronto, Canada, USA; Charles Jourdain (red glove) fights Sean Woodson (blue gloves) during UFC 297 at ScotiaBank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Records: Caceres (21-14 MMA, 16-12 UFC), Woodson (11-1-1 MMA, 5-1-1 UFC)
Past five: Caceres 3-2, Woodson 4-0-1
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 05.06.24): Caceres +180, Woodson -220
Junkie pick results: Woodson 8, Caceres 3

Diego Ferreira vs. Mateusz Rebecki

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 11: Mateusz Rebecki of Poland reacts after defeating Roosevelt Roberts in a lightweight fight during the UFC 295 event at Madison Square Garden on November 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Records: Ferreira (18-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC), Rebecki (19-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC)
Past five: Ferreira 2-3, Rebecki 4-1
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 05.06.24): Ferreira +380, Rebecki -500
Junkie pick results: Rebecki 11, Ferreira 0

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

Records: Menifield (15-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC), Ulberg (9-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC)
Past five: Menifield 4-0-1, Ulberg 4-1
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: Menifield No. 15
Odds (as of 05.06.24): Menifield +225, Ulberg -280
Junkie pick results: Menifield 7, Ulberg 4

Joaquin Buckley vs. Nursulton Ruziboev

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

Records: Buckley (18-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC), Ruziboev (34-8-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
Past five: Buckley 3-2, Ruziboev 5-0
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: No. 14
Odds (as of 05.06.24): Buckley -135, Ruziboev +115
Junkie pick results: Ruziboev 7, Buckley 4

Derrick Lewis vs. Rodrigo Nascimento

Nov 4, 2023; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Derrick Lewis (blue gloves) prepares to fight Jailton Almeida (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at Ibirapuera Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports

Records: Lewis (27-12 MMA, 18-10 UFC), Nascimento (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC)
Past five: Lewis 1-4, Nascimento 4-1
Division: Heavyweight
Rankings: Lewis No. 11
Odds (as of 05.06.24): Lewis -160, Nascimento +135
Junkie pick results: Lewis 10, Nascimento 1

Check out all the main card picks below.

UFC on ESPN 56 main card picks

	Lewis vs. Nascimento	Buckley vs. Ruziboev	Menifield vs. Ulberg	Ferreira vs. Rebecki	Caceres vs. Woodson	Cortes-Acosta vs. Despaigne
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 75-41	Lewis (72%)	Ruziboev (56%)	Ulberg (73%)	Rebecki (83%)	Woodson (61%)	Despaigne (87%)
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 80-36 2014 Champion	Nascimento	Buckley	Menifield	Rebecki	Woodson	Despaigne
Nolan King @mma_kings 76-40 2023 Champion	Lewis	Ruziboev	Menifield	Rebecki	Woodson	Despaigne
Ken Hathaway @1khathaway 75-41 2018, 2022 Champion	Lewis	Ruziboev	Ulberg	Rebecki	Woodson	Despaigne
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 75-41	Lewis	Ruziboev	Menifield	Rebecki	Woodson	Despaigne
Matt Erickson @MattE 71-45	Lewis	Buckley	Menifield	Rebecki	Woodson	Despaigne
Simon Samano @SJSamano 70-46	Lewis	Ruziboev	Ulberg	Rebecki	Caceres	Despaigne
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 70-46	Lewis	Buckley	Ulberg	Rebecki	Woodson	Despaigne
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 70-46	Lewis	Ruziboev	Menifield	Rebecki	Woodson	Despaigne
Brian Garcia @thegoze 64-52 2017 Champion	Lewis	Ruziboev	Menifield	Rebecki	Caceres	Despaigne
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 61-55	Lewis	Buckley	Menifield	Rebecki	Caceres	Cortes-Acosta
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 55-61	Lewis	Buckley	Ulberg	Rebecki	Woodson	Despaigne

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 56.