# Rodrigo Nascimento

Rodrigo Nascimento Ferreira (born November 26, 1992) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. He competed in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

## Background

Born in Belo Horizonte, Nascimento met his mentor, Everton Rabelo de Andrade, at a LAN party while playing video games. Andrade taught kids and young adults martial arts in the city, and invited Nascimento to be part of the team. In October 2010, the teenager entered his gym and started his MMA career.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Starting his professional career in 2012, two months after the death of his mentor, Nascimento got a perfect 8–0 record on the regional Brazilian scene, finishing his opponent in all eight bouts, 4 by submission and 2 by TKO.
Nascimento was invited to Dana White's Contender Series 22 and faced Michal Martinek on July 30, 2019. He won the bout via arm triangle in the first round, gaining a UFC contract in the process.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Nascimento faced Don'Tale Mayes on May 16, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris. He won the bout via second round rear naked choke.
Nascimento faced Chris Daukaus on October 11, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen. He lost the bout via first minute KO.
Nascimento was scheduled to face Alan Baudot on May 22, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt. However, after Baudot was injured, the bout was moved to UFC on ESPN: Makhachev vs. Moisés held on July 17, 2021. Nascimento won the fight via technical knockout in round two. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award. However, Nascimento’s urine test from the fight tested positive for ritalinic acid, a metabolite of psychostimulant drugs methylphenidate and ethylphenidate. As a result, Nascimento received a six-month suspension, retroactive to the test. He was also fined a total of $1,945.36, for the violation and subsequent legal fees. The bout was also overturned to a no contest.
Nascimento was scheduled to face Tanner Boser on April 23, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 205. However, Nascimento withdrew from the event for unknown reasons, and he was replaced by Alexander Romanov.
Nascimento was rebooked against Tanner Boser for September 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song. Nascimento won the fight via split decision.
Nascimento faced Ilir Latifi on May 20, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 223. He won the fight via split decision.
Nascimento faced Don'Tale Mayes in a rematch on November 4, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 231. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Nascimento faced former UFC Heavyweight Championship challenger Derrick Lewis on May 11, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 56. After being knocked down, he lost the fight via technical knockout from ground punches in the third round.
Nascimento faced Alexander Romanov on November 2, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 246. Nascimento lost the fight via unanimous decision.
On November 8, 2024, it was reported that Nascimento was removed from the UFC roster.

## Championships and accomplishments
### Mixed martial arts

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Performance of the Night (One Time) vs. Alan Baudot

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 15 matches | 11 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 2 |
| By submission | 6 | 0 |
| By decision | 3 | 1 |
| No contests | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 11–3 (1) | Alexander Romanov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi | November 2, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | |
| Loss | 11–2 (1) | Derrick Lewis | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento | May 11, 2024 | 3 | 0:49 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 11–1 (1) | Don'Tale Mayes | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Lewis | November 4, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 10–1 (1) | Ilir Latifi | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill | May 20, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–1 (1) | Tanner Boser | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song | September 17, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| NC | 8–1 (1) | Alan Baudot | NC (overturned) | UFC on ESPN: Makhachev vs. Moisés | July 17, 2021 | 2 | 1:29 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. Originally a TKO (punches) win for Nascimento; overturned after he tested positive for ritalinic acid. |
| Loss | 8–1 | Chris Daukaus | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen | October 11, 2020 | 1 | 0:45 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 8–0 | Don'Tale Mayes | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris | May 16, 2020 | 2 | 2:05 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | Michal Martinek | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Dana White's Contender Series 22 | July 30, 2019 | 1 | 3:16 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Everton dos Anjos | Submission (kimura) | JF Fight Evolution 18 | October 7, 2017 | 1 | 1:39 | Juiz de Fora, Brazil | |
| Win | 5–0 | Fabio Moreira | Submission (armbar) | BH Sparta 10 | November 19, 2016 | 2 | 3:00 | Belo Horizonte, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–0 | Fabricio Nascimento Silva | Submission (triangle choke) | BH Sparta 8 | April 15, 2016 | 1 | 1:14 | Belo Horizonte, Brazil | |
| Win | 3–0 | Ricardo Jordano | TKO (punches) | Full House Battle Home 6 | March 29, 2014 | 1 | 0:39 | Belo Horizonte, Brazil | Catchweight (231 lb) bout. |
| Win | 2–0 | Rafael Caixeta | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Full House Battle Home 5 | April 21, 2013 | 1 | 2:43 | Belo Horizonte, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Cicero Augusto | TKO (punches) | Full House Fight Night | March 24, 2012 | 1 | 0:42 | Belo Horizonte, Brazil | |