Marcos Rogerio de Lima

By now, the UFC is established enough in Brazil that most MMA fans have heard just how hard it is for outsiders to go there and get a win.

Marcos Rogerio de Lima knows about it – even though he knows it can work against him, as well, if he’s not careful. De Lima (12-2-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) meets Igor Pokrajac (25-11 MMA, 4-6 UFC) in a light heavyweight bout tonight at UFC Fight Night 58, which takes place at Jose Correa Arena in Barueri, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The main card airs on FOX Sports 1 following prelims, including de Lima-Pokrajac, on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

“Igor is highly experienced,” de Lima told MMAjunkie. “I am confident that we’re both dealing with pressure going into this fight. Of course, fighting in Brazil is difficult for foreigners – but also for Brazilian fighters because of expectations.”

De Lima got his hookup with the UFC courtesy of Season 3 of “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil,” where he was coached by famous Brazil offender Chael Sonnen. But unlike most of his MMA countrymen, de Lima didn’t have a problem with Sonnen.

“I may not have won, but it was still great,” he said. “I struck up a friendship with Chael Sonnen. He was very helpful and encouraging. I learned a lot from him and grew as an athlete.”

De Lima didn’t win “TUF,” but when he debuted in the UFC in late May, he may have made an even bigger impression when he knocked out Richardson Moreira in just 20 seconds in Brazil.

He may not have as easy of a time against a veteran like Pokrajac, though.

“He may be coming off a few losses, but that doesn’t change anything,” de Lima said. “He remains a dangerous competitor. This is a fight between two knockout artists and I’m sure it will be a war. It’s hard to predict the end result, but I can guarantee that I’ll be there to bang it out with him.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 58, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.