Rodrigo Nascimento Buys Into the Process

Rodrigo Nascimento takes his setbacks in stride.

“Yogi Bear” will look to re-establish himself as a key player worthy of Top-10 consideration in the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight division when he confronts Alexander Romanov as part of the UFC Fight Night 246 undercard this Saturday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. A technical knockout loss to Derrick Lewis on May 11 sent Nascimento back to the drawing board and saw him squander much of the momentum he had built during a three-fight winning streak between Sept. 17, 2022 and Nov. 4, 2023.

“I believe that we always find ways to learn,” he told Sherdog.com. “Sometimes, we don’t have much time in which to mature. Things happened when they were supposed to. Regardless of wins or losses, the main thing is to keep learning.”

Romanov now stands in his way.

“I have this opportunity to yet again fight someone who’s in the rankings,” Nascimento said. “It shows that the UFC believes I deserve a chance. I’ll win this fight, and I’ll ask for someone in the Top 10 next. I have a few names in mind, but I’ll take it one step at a time.”

The 32-year-old Romanov holds a 6-3 record across his nine appearances in the UFC but finds himself in a bit of a tailspin, having lost three of his past four bouts. He last competed at UFC 302, where he tapped to a rear-naked choke from Jailton Almeida in the first round of their June 1 pairing. It was the first submission loss of Romanov’s 20-fight career.

“Romanov is more of a Greco wrestler,” Nascimento said. “He attacks the hips and looks for single-leg takedowns. I don’t think he likes to strike. He runs from it. He looks very tired as the rounds go on from using up energy. I feel he’ll get tired against me, too. I’ll take him down and use my ground-and-pound and submit him, because I’m certain he’ll give me his back.”

Nascimento spent his pre-fight camp sharpening his skills and shoring up weaknesses at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, where coaches Ivan de Oliveira and Marcos da Matta spearheaded those efforts. Said Sowma and Marcus Almeida served as his primary sparring partners.

“I had 16 weeks to get ready,” Nascimento said. “I put emphasis on my physical conditioning. I put a lot of time into strength training, so I can have more heavyweight strength. They got together and made me much tougher. I’ll be ready for anything.”

Ever confident in his preparation, Nascimento believes he has all the tactical advantages against the hulking 6-foot-2, 265-pound Romanov.

“We’ll take this guy down, pressure him and get a submission,” Nascimento said. “He’s a grappler, but I have a jiu-jitsu black belt. Who knows? I could get a quick finish and get to fight again in December.”