Sherdog Prospect Watch: Lucas Rocha

Lucas Rocha’s long wait will soon be over.

His anticipated Ultimate Fighting Championship debut having been twice delayed by injuries, the 24-year-old Brazilian prospect steps into the Octagon for the first time when he meets the unbeaten Clayton Carpenter in a UFC Fight Night 244 flyweight prelim this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. A desire to support his growing family powers Rocha motivations and keeps him focused on long-term commitments.

“My plan is to get a fast win, avoid injuries and ask [UFC President] Dana White to put me back to work,” he told Sherdog.com. “I have a 4-year-old daughter and a baby on the way in February, so if he can book me for December or January, I’ll be ready.”

Rocha operates out of the Renovacao Coari Team fronted by Isaias Cunha in his native Brazil. He carries the utmost confidence in the preparation he undertook for the most significant opportunity of his career.

“I had always planned to train at home for my first UFC bout,” Rocha said. “We have an excellent team with a large number of training partners. I’m feeling great. All that’s left is to travel and win.”

Carpenter serves as a stout first test. However, the undefeated MMA Lab rep has not competed since he put away Juancamilo Ronderos with a rear-naked choke in the first round of their UFC Fight Night 219 pairing nearly 20 months ago. Carpenter punched his ticket to the UFC in 2022, when he laid claim to a unanimous decision over Edgar Chairez on Dana White’s Contender Series.

“We’ve studied my opponent,” Rocha said. “There are several holes in his standup game, and that’s what I do best. I only need one opportunity to finish the fight. I believe he’s a good wrestler, and I hear he’s competed in no-gi jiu-jitsu. I’m no dummy when it comes to that. I’ll be ready to surprise him, no matter where he wishes to take the fight.”

The bout marks Rocha’s second assignment outside of Brazil. He wiped out Davi Bittencourt with a second-round knee strike and follow-up punches in his contract-clinching appearance through DWCS on Oct. 10 in Las Vegas.

“I think the pressure is on him. He’s the one fighting at home,” Rocha said. “I actually prefer not to fight at home. It would stress me out—to fight in my own town. My mom would be screaming, and I could hear everything from inside the cage. It put all the pressure on me. I’m feeling relaxed going into my opponent’s house. I’m going to catch him. He better be ready because I’m arriving.”