Missouri natives headline UFC's return to St. Louis

For the first time since 2018, the UFC has brought its worldwide traveling combat circus to St. Louis.

St. Louis natives Joaquin Buckley and Sean Woodson highlight a main card that ends with heavyweight Derrick Lewis taking on Rodrigo Nascimento in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday, May 11, at the Enterprise Center.

Buckley, a former Marquette high school wrestler, will take on Nursulton Ruziboev in the co-main event. He called his shot after defeating Vicente Luque in UFC on ESPN 54 on March 30, demanding that he has a place in the fight card in his hometown.

“That’s just how the universe works,” Buckley said. “When you speak things out and when you’re unafraid and confident and you actually work towards things, the universe will reward you. [UFC president Dana White] hearing that I wanted to fight in my hometown city and obviously having someone like me be on a card, he only knew that the numbers were gonna go up.”

Buckley started his professional MMA career in the Shamrock FC circuit. He fought five fights in Bellator from 2016-18, winning three of them. He made his UFC debut on Aug. 8, 2020, which also had Lewis as the main event.

Buckley made a name for himself on Oct. 10, 2020 when he earned his first UFC win on a viral spinning kick that knocked out Impa Kasanganay. Buckley (18-6) is ranked No. 11 in the UFC welterweight division after his recent victory.

Buckley is a -148 favorite to win and believes a victory in his hometown will send his career skyrocketing.

“Everything that I envisioned and dreamt before I even got into the UFC is finally coming true,” Buckley said. “This is gonna be the fight that really turns my career around. Everybody talks about that kick, it’s one thing to be known for it, as in my face, but I believe people will see me as a future world champion after this fight.”

Woodson, a Parkway North High graduate, returns home to put his 11–1-1 record to the test against Alex Caceres.

“Getting into the UFC was a dream come true and second dream come true is fighting in my hometown,” Woodson said. “I feel like I knew in my heart whenever they came back here I’d be on that card. After my last fight I right away started hearing word that they were coming here. So I got on my manager right off the bat.”

Woodson started his mixed martial arts career in the Shamrock FC circuit before entering in Dana White’s Contender Series in July 23, 2019. A knockout win over Terrence McKinney vaulted him into the UFC, where he has since gone 5-1-1.

Woodson is a -192 favorite to beat Caceres, a Miami native, who has been fighting in the UFC since 2011, compiling a 21-14 professional record.

“He’s got a funky and weird style,” Woodson said. “I got a funky and weird style, so I feel this has no other option but to be an exciting fight.”

The event begins with the prelims at 3 p.m., followed by the main card at 6 p.m.

__Main Card Picks__

Main Event: Derrick Lewis (27-12) over Rodrigo Nascimento (11-1)

Co-Main Event: Joaquin Buckley (18-6) over Nursulton Ruziboev (34-8-2)

Carlos Ulberg (10-1) over Alonzo Menifield (15-3-1)

Mateusz Rębecki (19-1) over Diego Ferreira (18-5)

Sean Woodson (11-1-1) over Alex Caceres (21-14)

Robelis Despaigne (5-0) over Waldo Cortes-Acosta (11-1)

__Prelim Card Picks__

Chase Hooper (13-3-1) over Viacheslav Borshchev (7-3-1)

Esteban Ribovics (12-1) over Terrance McKinney (15-6)

Tecia Pennington (13-6) over Tabatha Ricci (9-2)

Billy Goff (9-2) over Trey Waters (8-1)

Charles Johnson (14-6) over Jake Hadley (10-2)

Jared Gooden (23-9) over Kevin Jousset (10-2)

JJ Aldrich (13-6) over Veronica Hardy (8-4-1)