MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom takes a quick look at the UFC on ESPN 56 bout between Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Robelis Despaigne.
[autotag]Waldo Cortes-Acosta[/autotag] and [autotag]Robelis Despaigne[/autotag] meet Saturday in the main card opener of UFC on ESPN 56 from Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Robelis Despaigne UFC on ESPN 56 preview
Cortes-Acosta (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) and Despaigne (19-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) get the main card started with a heavyweight bout that might not make it out of the first round. … Cortes-Acosta has won his last two fights, stopping Lukas Brzeski in the first round with punches and winning a unanimous decision over former champion Andrei Arlovski in his first fight of the year in January. … Despaigne brings his undefeated record to the UFC’s octagon for the second time, following an impressive debut that he won by knockout in just 18 seconds. The Cuban Olympian has not seen Round 2 in his young professional MMA career.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Robelis Despaigne expert pick, prediction
Even though we have surefire action fights like Terrance McKinney and Esteban Ribovics stuck on the prelims (not to mention a continually underserved men’s flyweight division), the powers that be continue to double down on the big boys by force-feeding us unproven heavyweights on Fight Night main cards.
In defense of the UFC matchmakers, both Cortes-Acosta and Despaigne are considered prospects – at least by heavyweight standards.
Despaigne, who appears to be the new hotness in the division, is an undeniable athletic force who comes from an Olympic-level taekwondo background. The Cuban fighter is still green with a small sample size, but that’s not stopping tumescent MMA gamblers from backing Despaigne at the betting window, hand over fist.
Cortes-Acosta, on the other hand, might be the most hated fighter since Ihot Potieria did his ‘duelist dance’ over the lifeless body of Mauricio Rua in Brazil.
Already possessing a style that arguably shoots itself in the foot with its flash-to-function ratio, Cortes-Acosta decided to double down on his unlikeability by blatantly disrespecting UFC legend Andrei Arlovski in his last outing.
I hope we get to see more of Despaigne regardless of the result here, but I’ll take the bait by making the cathartic prediction of picking “The Big Boy” to emphatically knock Cortes-Acosta out at the end of Round 1.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Robelis Despaigne odds
The odds makers and the public favor the less-proven heavyweight, listing Despaigne a healthy -250, with Cortes-Acosta a +198 underdog via FanDuel. Cortes-Acosta only has one loss in five UFC fights, and it was the only other time he was listed as an underdog; he lost a unanimous decision to Marcos Rogerio de Lima. The undefeated Despaigne’s UFC debut only lasted 18 seconds, and entered that bout against Josh Parisian as a -400 favorite.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Robelis Despaigne start time, how to watch
As the main card opener, Cortes-Acosta and Despaigne are expected to make their walk shortly after the main card begins, around 7:05 p.m. ET (4:05 p.m. PT). The fight broadcasts live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 56.
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom takes a quick look at the UFC on ESPN 56 bout between Alex Caceres and Sean Woodson.
[autotag]Alex Caceres[/autotag] and [autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 56 from Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
Alex Caceres vs. Sean Woodson UFC on ESPN 56 preview
Caceres (21-14 MMA, 16-12 UFC) and Woodson (11-1-1 MMA, 5-1-1 UFC) compete in the lone feathweight bout of the event. … Caceres enters his first fight of 2024 looking to return to the win column following a setback against Giga Chikadze last August. The loss came after a unanimous decision win over Daniel Pineda last June. … Woodson has been running hot, going unbeaten in his last five (four wins and one draw). In his first fight of the year, he edged out a split decision over Charles Jourdain at UFC 297 in January.
Alex Caceres vs. Sean Woodson expert pick, prediction
Serving as a solid offering at featherweight is a fight between [autotag]Alex Caceres[/autotag] and [autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag].
Caceres, who is coming off a competitive decision loss to Giga Chikadze last August, has been amid a career renaissance in recent years.
Though still unpredictable by nature, Caceres seems to rise to the occasion when paired with other creative strikers who will allow him to flow.
For that reason, I suspect that we should be in for a striker’s delight this Saturday.
Sean Woodson, who faces Alex Caceres at #UFCStLouis, is technically 0-0 against UFC-level southpaws but has faced stance-switchers like McKinney & Jourdain
Although Woodson is technically 0-0 against UFC-level southpaws, he has shown the ability to close stance and attack multiple levels.
Left hands will be potent for each party, but I’ll pick Woodson to edge out the scorecards in what I believe will be a competitive contest.
Alex Caceres vs. Sean Woodson odds
The oddsmakers and the public favor the younger fighter, listing Woodson as a solid favorite at -215, with Caceres coming in at a +172 underdog via FanDuel. The last three instances of Caceres being listed as an underdog at the betting window, he came away with a loss. Meanwhile, Woodson has been a favorite in four of his last five. He was an underdog against Charles Jourdain in his last fight, but won a split decision.
Alex Caceres vs. Sean Woodson start time, how to watch
As the second bout on the main card, Caceres and Woodson are expected to make their walk to the octagon around 7:40 p.m. ET (4:40 p.m. PT). The fight broadcasts live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 56.
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom takes a quick look at the UFC on ESPN 56 bout between Diego Ferreira and Mateusz Rebecki.
[autotag]Diego Ferreira[/autotag] and [autotag]Mateusz Rebecki[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 56 from Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
Diego Ferreira vs. Mateusz Rebecki UFC on ESPN 56 preview
Ferreira (18-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) and Rebecki (19-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) compete in the lone lightweight bout on the main card. … Ferreira will look to remain in the win column following a knockout win of Michael Johnson last year, which snapped a three-fight kid. … Rebecki only has one loss on his professional record, which came in just his fourth pro fight. He has since won 16 straight, including stoppages in his Dana White Contender Series appearance, and his first two UFC bouts (Loik Radzhabov and Roosevelt Roberts).
Diego Ferreira vs. Mateusz Rebecki expert pick, prediction
In what is easily the best offering on the main card, [autotag]Diego Ferreira[/autotag] will welcome [autotag]Mateusz Rebecki[/autotag] to the next level of the UFC lightweight ladder.
A tried-and-true member of lightweight’s upper echelons, Ferreira has either competed with or beaten some of the best his division has to offer.
Despite stepping onto the scene as a brawling Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Ferreira has sharpened his striking skills while cross-training between his personal fight team and Fortis MMA.
Although CDF still showed susceptibility to southpaw counters and bodywork in his last fight against M. Johnson, he smartly implemented a lot more jabs per his coach @sayif_saud
Although Ferreira showed excellent in-fight adjustments in his last outing opposite southpaw Michael Johnson, the 39-year-old veteran still shows some susceptibility to southpaw counters and bodywork.
Considering that Rebecki brings plenty of both with his pressuring style, I suspect the Polish ADCC champion could be a uniquely tricky matchup for Ferreira when factoring in the wrestling and grappling-savvy of “Rebeasti.”
I’m tempted to pick Ferreira to pull off the upset at his current betting odds, but I’ll instead semi-reluctantly side with Rebecki and his southpaw pressure to produce a finish toward the end of round 2.
Diego Ferreira vs. Mateusz Rebecki odds
The oddsmakers and the public heavily favor the Polish fighter this weekend, listing Rebecki at -500 and Ferreira as a sizable underdog at +360 via FanDuel. Ferreira has been an underdog in three of his last four, but no higher than +200. Rebecki enters as a favorite yet again, a familiar position. From his Dana White’s Contender Series bout to his first three UFC bouts, he has been listed anywhere from a slight -155 favorite to a massive -800 favorite.
Diego Ferreira vs. Mateusz Rebecki start time, how to watch
As the third bout on the main card, Ferreira and Rebecki are expected to make their walk to the octagon around 8:20 p.m. ET (5:20 p.m. PT). The fight broadcasts live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 56.
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom takes a quick look at the UFC on ESPN 56 bout between Alonzo Menifield and Carlos Ulberg.
[autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag] and [autotag]Carlos Ulberg[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 56 from Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
Alonzo Menifield vs. Carlos Ulberg UFC on ESPN 56 preview
Menifield (15-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) and Ulberg (9-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) look to keep their light heavyweight hot streaks alive. … Menifield has gone unbeaten in his last five outings, picking up four wins and a draw result. During this run, he has recorded two stoppages, submitting Jimmy Crute and knocking out Askar Mozharov. … Ulberg’s current winning streak is five, which includes four straight stoppages. After a decision over Fabio Cherant, Ulberg went on to finish Tafon Nchukwi, Nicolae Negumereanu, Ihor Potieria and Da Un Jung.
Alonzo Menifield vs. Carlos Ulberg expert pick, prediction
Filling out the main card is a light heavyweight showdown between Menifield and Ulberg.
Menifield, who has been experiencing a bit of a resurgence under the wing of Pat Barry, is quietly riding a four-fight winning streak since coming up short to the thick-set William Knight.
Although Menifield has the power to score the upset with a single shot, I’m not sure I can overlook the improvements and precision of Ulberg.
Both men have mean left hooks, but I suspect that Ulberg’s more educated lead hand and footwork will win the day.
From a betting perspective, it’s dog-or-pass, but my official pick is Ulberg by second-round knockout.
Alonzo Menifield vs. Carlos Ulberg odds
The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the native of New Zealand, listing Ulberg (-265) and Menifield (+210) via FanDuel. It’s familiar territory for Menifield, who entered as an underdog in three straight fights, going 2-0-1 in that stretch. Over the same number of previous fights, Ulberg has been a consistent favorite, as he continued to rack up wins on his current five-fight winning streak.
Alonzo Menifield vs. Carlos Ulberg start time, how to watch
As the fourth bout on the main card, Menifield and Ulberg are expected to make their walk to the octagon around 9:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. PT). The fight broadcasts live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 56.
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom takes a quick look at the UFC on ESPN 56 bout between Joaquin Buckley and Nursulton Ruziboev.
[autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag] and [autotag]Nursulton Ruziboev[/autotag] meet Saturday in the co-feature bout of UFC on ESPN 56 from Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
Joaquin Buckley vs. Nursulton Ruziboev UFC on ESPN 56 preview
Buckley (18-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and Ruziboev (34-8-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) clash in this welterweight co-feature between competitors with middleweight backgrounds. … Buckley has been on a tear since moving down to the welterweight division last year. He has won three straight, including a head kick knockout of Andre Fialho, a unanimous decision over Alex Morono, and a big ground and pound finish of Vicente Luque. … Ruziboev is still new to the UFC, but has stopped both opponents he’s faced at 185 pounds. This fight will be his first at 170 pounds in the UFC, looking to extends his winning streak to three.
Joaquin Buckley vs. Nursulton Ruziboev expert pick, prediction
The co-main event in St. Louis features an impromptu welterweight showdown between Buckley and Ruziboev.
Despite fighting at middleweight for his first two UFC appearances, Ruziboev will be dropping down a division on short notice to take a shot at ranked opposition in Buckley.
Ruziboev hasn’t made 170 pounds since 2021, so it will be interesting to see how the weight cut will affect the 30-year-old Uzbek, given his insanely tall frame.
Nursulton Ruziboev, who faces Joaquin Buckley, is 0-0 against UFC-level southpaws.
Was only able to find 1 regional sample of him opposite a SP (circa 2017). Ruziboev showed classic lead-side pawing and power side dependency in open stance: pic.twitter.com/lmeITuXQ0Z
As seen in the southpaw report above, Ruziboev also hasn’t faced a southpaw since roughly 2017, but shows the tools to replicate the success that both Kevin Holland and Alessio Di Chirico had against Buckely. That said, I ultimately have a hard time picking against Buckley in this spot.
Aside from fighting in front of his hometown crowd, Buckley also has more experience when it comes to fighting higher-level opposition on short notice.
Add in the obvious intangibles of Ruziboev’s weight cut, and I’ll officially side with Buckley to find a finish on his diminished foe by round 3.
Joaquin Buckley vs. Nursulton Ruziboev odds
The oddsmakers and the public are slightly favoring the American, listing Buckley (-134) and Ruziboev (+110) via FanDuel. Buckley has been a favorite in four consecutive fights, going 3-1 in that stretch. Ruziboev was a near 2:1 underdog in his UFC debut, and flipped the odds in his second appearance. He won both fights by stoppage.
Joaquin Buckley vs. Nursulton Ruziboev start time, how to watch
As the co-main event, Buckley and Ruziboev are expected to make their walk to the octagon around 9:40 p.m. ET (6:40 p.m. PT). The fight broadcasts live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 56.
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the UFC on ESPN 56 main event between Derrick Lewis and Rodrigo Nascimento.
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at the UFC on ESPN 56 main event between former heavyweight title challenger [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] and rising contender [autotag]Rodrigo Nascimento[/autotag].
Derrick Lewis UFC on ESPN 56 preview
Jul 29, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Derrick Lewis (red gloves) reacts to defeating Marcos Rogerio De Lima (blue gloves) during UFC 291 at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Supplemental info:
+ Legacy FC heavyweight title
+ Regional MMA accolades
+ 22 KO victories
+ 1 submission win
+ 9 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Dangerous overhands and uppercuts
+ Underrated kicks and knees
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Strikes well off the breaks
+ Shows improved wrestling
+ Deceptive scrambling/getup ability
+ Devastating ground striker
Supplemental info:
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt
+ Grappling tournament experience
+ 2 KO victories
+ 6 submission wins
+ 6 first-round finishes
+ Shows improved overall striking
^ Variates looks and levels
+ Accurate jabs and uppercuts
+ Deceptively quick kicks
+ Serviceable wrestling ability
^ Defensively and offensively
+ Solid transitional grappler
+ Diverse submission acumen
Derrick Lewis vs. Rodrigo Nascimento point of interest: Heavyweight hands
Feb 12, 2022; Houston, Texas, UNITED STATES; Derrick Lewis (red gloves) fights Tai Tuivasa (blue gloves) during UFC 271 at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The main event in St. Louis features a heavyweight showdown between Lewis and Nascimento.
Stepping onto the scene as an unabashed brawler, Lewis has shown some signs of improvement underneath the scary destructions that often take place in his fights. An athletic mover for his size, Lewis can throw accurate knees and head kicks with little signs of struggle.
Never noticed this before, but Derrick Lewis gives a nice, candid reaction to Bruce Buffer – who mixes up Lewis’ win-loss record during the intro for his UFC debut. #UFC230pic.twitter.com/eBHMj2rLR8
A downright scary distance closer when he chooses to be, Lewis can force his opponents into the fence whether or not he lands on them, almost in a juggernaut-like fashion. With a frame that is hard to control in close, the 39-year-old slugger does his best work when striking off the breaks, maintaining a dangerous potency in small spaces that go deep into the fight.
Lewis also has an appetite for the counter, showing that he’s not beyond setting traps and playing possum in order to draw his opponents into his uncanny power. That said, Lewis will still need to respect what is coming his way this Saturday.
Enter Nascimento.
A natural heavyweight by many metrics, Nascimento moves deceptively well for a man of his size.
Working diligently on his boxing since signing with the UFC, Nascimento does a decent job with his fundamental striking form. Whether Nascimento is utilizing economical punching mechanics or keeping his weight over his feet, the 31-year-old Brazilian will work his way into space off his lead hand, all while keeping his patent right uppercut at the ready.
When feeling in stride, Nascimento will punctuate his combinations with kicks, showing a sneaky switch-kick off his lead side.
Nevertheless, Nascimento will need to be careful about crowding his work into the clinch – an area where Lewis can stage comebacks.
Derrick Lewis vs. Rodrigo Nascimento breakdown: Potential grappling threats
Jul 29, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Derrick Lewis (red gloves) fights Marcos Rogerio De Lima (blue gloves) during UFC 291 at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Considering the high potential for chaos on the feet, no one should be shocked if this party hits the floor.
Despite Lewis showing a surprising ability to hit inside trips in recent fights, I suspect that Nascimento will be the more eager man in the takedown department given his on-paper edge.
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt who has experience in grappling competitions, Nascimento has shown a serviceable wrestling ability since working stateside with American Top Team in South Florida.
Whether Nascimento is working from the clinch or looking to change his level for a double-leg along the cage, the 12-year pro displays some sneaky savvy when looking to shift his intensity level and look for a takedown. That said, taking down someone like Lewis is easier said than done.
Traditionally dealing with fighters who are trying to grapple him, Lewis wields deceptively effective counter-grappling tactics. Whether he’s hoisting his opponent up with a whizzer or shucking someone off with an underhook, Lewis has been hard to take down along the fence, as single legs or outside trips in open space seem to be what gets him grounded most.
Even when successfully taken down, Lewis still offers a lot of sneaky static in regard to stymying submission attempts and strikes.
Like a sand shark lying in wait, Lewis plays a conservative game when put on his back, keeping his arms in tight for safety while waiting for the right moment to explode (usually timing his opposition when they’re in transition). Once allowed the smallest of space for momentum, Lewis will force his way to his base, turtling to a tripod position to stand.
As someone who is a fan of this style of get-up, I can tell you that it can be a nightmare to encounter when executed properly. For example, Lewis – while keeping his base firmly beneath him – will maintain an angle on his back that resembles a steep ski slope.
Although this tripod position invites back-takes to the naked eye, the downward slope Lewis keeps serves as a trap, making eager back takers ultimately slide forward and lose position (all while allowing the Texas native to stand back up). And if Lewis is able to end up on top via swimming for underhooks and shucking, then we could see a drastic shift in this matchup’s momentum given the hellfire of ground-and-pound he provides.
Derrick Lewis vs. Rodrigo Nascimento odds
The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the American, listing Lewis -172 and Nascimento +138 via FanDuel. Lewis has been an underdog in his last four fights, from near-even money all the way up to +370 in his last bout against Almeida. Meanwhile, Nascimento has been a favorite in each of his six UFC bouts thus far, except one – a fight he won against Tanner Boser in 2022.
Derrick Lewis vs. Rodrigo Nascimento prediction, pick
Outside of a literal select few (Daniel Cormier, Serghei Spivac and Jailton Almeida), fighters who try to grapple Lewis generally end up with their consciousness stripped from their body. And when it comes to fighters who have successfully stood with Lewis, undeniable knockout power and athleticism appear to be crucial parts of the equation that I’m not sure Nascimento has.
Whether we’re talking one-shot stopping power or explosive finishes to takedown shots, Nascimento does not appear to be a standout in those key categories despite generally having the right idea in fights.
Don’t get me wrong: there are plenty of ways for a heavyweight fight to get to the ground, and Nascimento demonstrated in his first fight with Don’Tale Mayes that he is one of the handful of big men who can competently take a back in transition.
But if the Brazilian fails and ends up on the bottom, then I believe that this fight will turn in the blink of an eye given the susceptibility to ground strikes that Nascimento has shown in the past.
Although Nascimento’s propensity to eat left-sided strikes won’t be as prominent against a right-hand happy fighter like Lewis, I see punches off the break sparking off a finish for the Texan that’s likely finalized on the floor.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see either a feeling-out period or grapple-fest from Nascimento early, so I’ll officially pick Lewis to score a second-round knockout.
Prediction: Lewis inside the distance
Derrick Lewis vs. Rodrigo Nascimento start time, where to watch
Lewis and Nascimento are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 10:15 p.m. ET (7:15 p.m. PT). The fight broadcasts live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 56.
The MMA Junkie staff drops predictions for tonight’s UFC on ESPN 56 main card 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.
The microphone can be a powerful thing in MMA, but Derrick Lewis balances crass comedy, criticism and callouts after his wins.
In MMA, fighters learned quickly the power of the microphone can be a mighty thing.
That power also can be used in ways the industry has termed “cringe”-worthy, and that’s what we see more often than not – prepared zingers that no doubt were practiced in bathroom mirrors dozens of times, but that don’t come out the same after getting smacked in the mouth a bunch of times.
Then there’s [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag], who seems to be able to combine the best of all microphone worlds – unfiltered off-the-cuff one-liners, knee-jerk reactions to post-fight questions, and some thought-of-in-advance stuff that oftentimes requires a “Wait, did he just say that?” and a quick rewind.
Ahead of his UFC on ESPN 56 headliner against Rodrigo Nascimento (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), take a look back at some of the best post-fight in-cage interview moments from the UFC career of two-time heavyweight title challenger and unofficial MMA interview Hall of Famer Derrick Lewis (27-12 MMA, 18-10 UFC).
UFC on ESPN 56 ceremonial weigh-ins are in the books and the fighters came face-to-face one final time before Saturday’s event in St. Louis.
UFC on ESPN 56 ceremonial weigh-ins took place Friday, and the fighters came face-to-face one final time before Saturday’s event.
The weigh-ins took place at Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The same venue hosts Saturday’s event, which airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
Check out the video above to see the athletes from all 12 scheduled matchups come face-to-face, including the [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Rodrigo Nascimento[/autotag] heavyweight headliner, St. Louis’ own [autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Nursulton Ruziboev[/autotag] in the welterweight co-main event, plus more.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 56.
Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 56 in St. Louis has a shorter lineup as one fight was canceled during Friday’s weigh-in window.
UFC on ESPN 56 has one less fight on its lineup than it did at the start of official weigh-ins.
The welterweight prelim between [autotag]Jared Gooden[/autotag] and [autotag]Kevin Jousset[/autotag] was canceled during the official weigh-in window Friday at the athlete host hotel. The event takes place Saturday at Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
Jousset made weight less than 10 minutes into the window, but Gooden never showed up. The promotion announced prior to the window’s close that due to “medical reasons,” Gooden was unable to compete.
Gooden is a repeat offender when it comes to weight misses. In six UFC bouts over two separate stints with the promotion, Gooden has missed the welterweight limit twice: once by three pounds and once by six.
Neither party has publicly commented on the cancellation at the time of publication and it’s unclear whether Jousset will be quickly rebooked.
With the cancellation, the UFC on ESPN 56 lineup includes:
MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
Derrick Lewis vs. Rodrigo Nascimento
Joaquin Buckley vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
Alonzo Menifield vs. Carlos Ulberg
Diego Ferreira vs. Mateusz Rebecki
Alex Caceres vs. Sean Woodson
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Robelis Despaigne
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)
Viacheslav Borshchev vs. Chase Hooper
Terrance McKinney vs. Esteban Ribovics
Tecia Pennington vs. Tabatha Ricci
Billy Goff vs. Trey Waters
Jake Hadley vs. Charles Johnson
JJ Aldrich vs. Veronica Hardy
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 56.
