vs
-300 +260
UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad · Mar 13, 2021 · Bantamweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad Next Fight
Age 41
Height 5' 6"
Reach 67.0"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 38
Height 5' 7"
Reach 70.0"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Rani Yahya
1.71 SLpM
38.0% Str. Acc.
2.08 SApM
50.0% Str. Def.
2.73 TD Avg
30.0% TD Acc.
29.0% TD Def.
1.8 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Ray Rodriguez
0.9 SLpM
27.0% Str. Acc.
3.89 SApM
40.0% Str. Def.
1.42 TD Avg
50.0% TD Acc.
44.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Rani Yahya
Moneyline
BetWay -300
KO/TKO
BetWay +1000
Submission
BetWay +110
Decision
BetWay +300
Ray Rodriguez
Moneyline
FanDuel +260
KO/TKO
BetWay +550
Submission
BetWay +1000
Decision
BetWay +450
Rani Yahya - Fight History
LOSS vs Victor Henry
TKO (head kick and punches) R3 2:36 · UFC on ESPN: Nicolau vs. Perez · Apr 27, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Victor Henry 0 54 of 109 49% 56 of 111 0 of 10 0% 0 0 0:48
Rani Yahya 2 109 of 205 53% 150 of 260 0 of 2 0% 0 0 3:09
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Victor Henry 0 21 of 39 53% 23 of 41 0 of 6 0% 0 0 0:48
Rani Yahya 0 19 of 30 63% 26 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:00
2 Victor Henry 0 24 of 51 47% 24 of 51 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Rani Yahya 1 56 of 115 48% 70 of 136 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:38
3 Victor Henry 0 9 of 19 47% 9 of 19 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Rani Yahya 1 34 of 60 56% 54 of 83 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:31
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Victor Henry 54 of 109 49% 28 of 76 6 of 9 20 of 24 51 of 105 3 of 4 0 of 0
Rani Yahya 109 of 205 53% 84 of 176 21 of 24 4 of 5 89 of 173 2 of 5 18 of 27
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Victor Henry 21 of 39 53% 7 of 19 3 of 5 11 of 15 18 of 36 3 of 3 0 of 0
Rani Yahya 19 of 30 63% 13 of 24 4 of 4 2 of 2 17 of 26 2 of 4 0 of 0
2 Victor Henry 24 of 51 47% 15 of 41 2 of 3 7 of 7 24 of 51 0 of 0 0 of 0
Rani Yahya 56 of 115 48% 43 of 98 11 of 14 2 of 3 48 of 103 0 of 1 8 of 11
3 Victor Henry 9 of 19 47% 6 of 16 1 of 1 2 of 2 9 of 18 0 of 1 0 of 0
Rani Yahya 34 of 60 56% 28 of 54 6 of 6 0 of 0 24 of 44 0 of 0 10 of 16
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Rani Yahya vs. Victor Henry

Round 1
Yahya comes out throwing leg kicks. Henry looks to counter with punches and catches Yahya with a left hook. Yahya goes for a takedown and gets a waistlock. Henry gets thrown on the floor, but Henry gets back up. They separate. Henry lands a straight right to the body. Yahya goes for another takedown, but Henry gets up again immediately afterward. Henry can't get his offense off, as he has to keep defending against Yahya. The round ends with Yahya wildly throwing punches.

Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Yahya
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Yahya
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Yahya

Round 2
Yahya lands a nice overhand right. Yahya wildly dives for a leg but can't get it. Leg kick lands for Yahya. Henry pumping out his jab but isn't putting much power behind it. Yahya goes for a takedown, but it is stuffed. Henry eats a left hook. A right hook lands for Yahya. Henry sneaks in an elbow that hurts Yahya, and a left hand comes shortly afterward. Nice straight right by Henry. Yahya is getting backed up against the fence. Henry finding much more success this round. Henry uses his kicks to determine the distance. Henry lands a thudding right hand. Yahya's head is snapping back due to jabs. Henry throws Yahya off him and lets him back up. Henry is overwhelming Yahya with punches, who falls to the ground. Henry unloads with punches and landing hammerfists. Yahya survives the round.

Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Henry
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-8 Henry
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Henry

Round 3
Henry comes out working his jab. Yahya is eating a lot of shots and dives for a takedown. Yahya looks for a leg. Henry is willing to go down to the ground and lands a nice punch. Henry allows his opponent back up. Yahya looks exhausted. Henry lands a push kick and follows up with a right hook that puts Yahya down. Yahya turtles up. Henry lands punches, but Yahya is able to get half-guard. Henry gets back up and starts punishing the body with punches.
A head kick lands for Henry. Yahya turtles up on the feet and the fight is waved off.
Yahya had nothing left after the beating he took in Round 2.

The Official Result
Victor Henry def. Rani Yahya via TKO (Head Kick and Punches); R3, 2:36.
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 21, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Victor Henry

Angelo is confident Victor Henry wins but refuses to touch the -500 line, calling it 'kick rocks.' He notes Rani Yahya looked old and slow in his last fight, getting knocked out, and that good things don't happen after that in MMA. He points out Henry has lost to a 40-year-old before (Raphael Assunção), making him unreliable at such short odds. He picks Henry but says if he were -150 he'd love it.

"I am confident that he wins he is going to be the pick and if he was minus 150 I'd love it minus 500 kick rocks dude no thanks"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Victor Henry

Cody picks Henry, calling him the best favorite on the card. He notes Yahya's one-dimensional BJJ and poor striking, and believes Henry's wrestling and grappling will neutralize Yahya. He expects a dominant decision or late finish.

"Victor Henry is undoubtedly the best player in the card but yeah he's the line the line is awful"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Apr 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Victor Henry

Daniel notes Henry has never been finished in 29 fights and has a catch wrestling background. He thinks Henry's output and striking will overwhelm Yahya, who is 42 and relies on jiu-jitsu. He expects Henry to look like a -400 favorite and win comfortably.

"I'm going with Victor Henry here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 26, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Victor Henry

Henry has good defensive grappling and should be able to keep the fight upright, using his movement and output to chip away at Yahya. Yahya is dangerous on the ground but Henry's takedown defense is high level. I expect Henry to win on the scorecards. The over 2.5 rounds is also a good prop.

Over 2.5 rounds -150
"I'm still going to predict Victor Henry here and I think he ends up winning this fight on the scorecards"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Victor Henry

Paul agrees, citing Yahya's age (40), inactivity, and lack of wrestling. He thinks Henry can mimic Ricky Simon's game plan of stuffing takedowns and landing strikes. He considers Henry a solid favorite despite the poor line.

"Victor Henry again I think he's one of the best favorites if not the best favorite on the entire card"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lock picked Apr 23, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Victor Henry

The MMA Guru picks Victor Henry as one of the locks of the card. He criticizes Rani Yahya as very old at 39 and notes his recent losses to Montel Jackson and weak competition. He praises Henry's consistency, difficulty to finish, and ability to survive on the ground. He predicts a unanimous decision or late TKO, and says he would be very shocked if Henry loses.

unanimous decision or late TKO
"I'm going with Victor Henry man it's just uh it's kind of hard to pick against Victor Henry on this card if I'm honest with you guys very hard to pick V against Victor Henry think he's one of the …"
LOSS vs Montel Jackson
KO (punches) R1 3:42 · UFC Fight Night: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes · Apr 22, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Montel Jackson 0 7 of 21 33% 7 of 22 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:08
Rani Yahya 1 9 of 21 42% 10 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:17
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Montel Jackson 0 7 of 21 33% 7 of 22 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:08
Rani Yahya 1 9 of 21 42% 10 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:17
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Montel Jackson 7 of 21 33% 1 of 10 1 of 2 5 of 9 7 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0
Rani Yahya 9 of 21 42% 7 of 18 1 of 2 1 of 1 5 of 14 0 of 0 4 of 7
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Montel Jackson 7 of 21 33% 1 of 10 1 of 2 5 of 9 7 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0
Rani Yahya 9 of 21 42% 7 of 18 1 of 2 1 of 1 5 of 14 0 of 0 4 of 7
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Montel Jackson vs. Rani Yahya
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Jackson (-560), Yahya (+430)

Round 1
The quintessential “striker vs. grappler” contest rears its head between these two bantamweights, one that also has a storyline of a young, hungry up-and-comer against an aging, storied vet. Owner of 21 submissions without a single knockout to his credit, Yahya (28-10-1, 1 NC; 13-4-1, 1 NC UFC) will attempt to run his win streak to three in this matchup. He will face “Quik” Jackson (12-2, 6-2 UFC), who will be much larger, longer and younger. The third man in the Octagon for this match will be referee Keith Peterson, who clocks the fighters in ahead of their sporting and nonsense-free glove touch. Yahya strikes first with a pair of punches and a low kick, and he spins around before Jackson can reach him. The Brazilian lands with another low kick, and he stays out of range for the lanky Jackson to get to him. Yahya tosses forth one more leg kick for good measure, and he scoots forward to stomp at it from another angle. The strategy is clear for Yahya, who is continuously targeting the lead wheel. Jackson throws a few punches that bounce off the guard and knock his man into the wall, not from damage but rather the force of the strikes. Jackson catches him with a one-two, and Yahya dives forward into a single. Jackson hops back against the fence and elbows Yahya in the side of the dome before getting lifted off the ground. Yahya ends up falling to his back to make sure the fighters hit the ground, and he closes his guard momentarily before fishing for a sweep. Yahya isolates Jackson’s right arm beneath his own armpit and throws a leg up for a potential armlock, and Jackson sits up to get most of the leverage out of the position. Yahya gets popped in the chops to break up the submission, and he pulls on the glove to keep Jackson down but is warned for it. Jackson jumps back up to his feet and rips the body with a kick. Yahya misses with a stomp kick but does reach a right hand over the top, and Jackson does not even register its landing. Jackson hand-fights and throws a high kick that wraps over the guard.
Yahya darts in lunging with his arms outstretched, and “Quik” perfectly counters with a clean left hand over the top that smashes into the veteran’s chin. Yahya falls to his back, in immediate danger, and Jackson senses this and deftly moves over to finish the job with some long, straight punches as he lords over the doomed grappler. As Jackson pounds on his fallen foe, Yahya’s lights go out briefly, and Peterson waves the fight off.
This is a big win for Jackson, who becomes the first fighter to stop Yahya since the Brazilian faced Joseph Benavidez at WEC 45 in 2009 – over seven years before Jackson turned pro.

The Official Result
Montel Jackson def. Rani Yahya R1 3:42 via KO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 16, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Montel Jackson

Angelo picks Montel Jackson easily, stating he should defend every takedown from Yahya and light him up on the feet. He notes Yahya's low takedown accuracy (24%) and that he relies on opponents shooting takedowns to get to the ground. He recommends parlaying Jackson.

Parlay piece.
"This is a very easy Montel Jackson pick... Montel Jackson easy win you should be able to Parlay him."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Montel Jackson

Big Brady picks Montel Jackson to win by first-round knockout. He notes that Jackson is the biggest favorite on the card and has a huge reach and size advantage over the 38-year-old Yahya. Jackson has a ton of knockdowns and Yahya has been dropped in recent fights. Brady believes Jackson will stuff takedowns, keep the fight on the feet, and knock Yahya down repeatedly until the fight is stopped. He sees this as a terrible matchup for Yahya.

first round knockout
"first round knockout here for Montel Jackson I think he gets uh Yaya out of there early"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Montel Jackson

Cody picks Montel Jackson, citing his massive reach and strength advantages. He notes Yahya is old (38), has poor wrestling and striking, and relies on flopping to his back to avoid damage. Cody believes Jackson can keep the fight standing and use his reach to pick Yahya apart, possibly getting a knockout. He mentions a prop on PrizePicks for under 1.5 takedowns for Jackson, as he expects Jackson to avoid grappling.

Under 1.5 takedowns for Montel Jackson (PrizePicks)
"Montel Jackson the only way he gets himself in trouble in this fight against Rani Yaya who is very long in the tooth and will flop to his back and do all crazy types of things to try to get …"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 20, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Montel Jackson

Connor picks Montel Jackson, believing he is improving despite himself and that his natural athleticism and size will be too much for Yahya. He notes that Jackson's ability to easily shut down takedowns, as seen against Ricky Simon, will be key. However, he acknowledges that Jackson tends to make fights more competitive than needed and that Yahya is a dedicated grappler who can take a mile if given an inch.

Odds comment: Jackson opened at -562, currently -595; Yahya opened at +435, currently +455. Connor says that's a little too wide on Jackson, noting that Brett Johns beat Jackson with a dedicated game and that Jackson has lapses.
"I am going to pick Jackson to win because I think he's one of those fighters who is just improving despite himself."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Apr 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Montel Jackson

Montel Jackson has significant speed and power advantages, and his kicks can keep Yahya at distance. Yahya is a jiu-jitsu specialist who struggles to get takedowns and has poor cardio. Jackson should be able to pick him apart and eventually land a knockout. However, Jackson has lacked killer instinct and has been taken down by grapplers before. If Yahya gets a hold of him, he could grind out a win. Jackson by knockout in the second round is the pick, but with low confidence.

Jackson by KO in round 2
"I'm gonna go Jackson by knockout but again this is a sketchy one... official prediction Montel Jackson by knockout let's say second round"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Montel Jackson

Paul also picks Jackson, agreeing with Cody's assessment. He adds that Yahya's Jiu-Jitsu is good but his wrestling is bad, and Jackson has good takedown defense. Paul notes that judges now favor damage, so even if Yahya gets takedowns, Jackson's striking should win rounds. He expects Jackson to win, possibly by knockout.

"I think Jackson's gonna be able to brick wall him keep the fight standing utilize that big reach Advantage utilize a power Advantage maybe even knock him out"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lock picked Apr 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Montel Jackson

The MMA Guru calls this the lock of the card, stating there is no chance Rani Yahya wins. He highlights Montel Jackson's wicked striking and improving skills, and his ability to stuff takedowns with good wrist control. He notes Yahya's age, injuries, and inability to get the fight to the ground. He predicts a KO in the first or second round.

KO in the first or second round
"this is the lock of the card there isn't a single chance on Earth that Ronnie Yaya's gonna win this fight"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 20, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Montel Jackson

Zane also picks Montel Jackson, agreeing that he is probably too innately good and big for Yahya. He notes that Yahya is self-destructive and puts a ton of energy into grappling, and that Jackson's physicality should allow him to rebuff Yahya's wrestling. Zane mentions that Jackson's ability to just grab a wrist and control an opponent's arm is a huge advantage.

"I am also inclined to pick him. I mean, I just think he's probably too innately good and big for Ronnie."
WIN vs Kyung Ho Kang
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate · Nov 20, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rani Yahya 0 27 of 48 56% 152 of 218 3 of 8 37% 1 1 10:36
Kyung Ho Kang 1 43 of 82 52% 103 of 154 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:05
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rani Yahya 0 21 of 35 60% 23 of 37 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:24
Kyung Ho Kang 1 33 of 61 54% 45 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:57
2 Rani Yahya 0 1 of 2 50% 59 of 85 1 of 2 50% 1 0 4:48
Kyung Ho Kang 0 4 of 4 100% 10 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Rani Yahya 0 5 of 11 45% 70 of 96 1 of 2 50% 0 1 4:24
Kyung Ho Kang 0 6 of 17 35% 48 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rani Yahya 27 of 48 56% 7 of 25 1 of 1 19 of 22 26 of 47 0 of 0 1 of 1
Kyung Ho Kang 43 of 82 52% 36 of 73 1 of 3 6 of 6 40 of 78 0 of 0 3 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rani Yahya 21 of 35 60% 4 of 15 1 of 1 16 of 19 21 of 35 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kyung Ho Kang 33 of 61 54% 28 of 55 1 of 2 4 of 4 30 of 57 0 of 0 3 of 4
2 Rani Yahya 1 of 2 50% 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kyung Ho Kang 4 of 4 100% 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 2 4 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Rani Yahya 5 of 11 45% 3 of 9 0 of 0 2 of 2 4 of 10 0 of 0 1 of 1
Kyung Ho Kang 6 of 17 35% 6 of 16 0 of 1 0 of 0 6 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Nov 17, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Rani Yahya

Angelo picks Rani Yahya but calls it razor thin. He notes Yahya's relentless takedown attempts and superior grappling should be the difference, but Kang is the better striker and could keep it standing. He is concerned about Yahya's age (36) but says it's not as old as he thought. He expects Yahya to smother Kang with wrestling.

DraftKings prices: Yahya 8000, Kang 8200; monkey knife fight less/less
"ronnie's the pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 16, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Big Brady picks Kyung Ho Kang to win by decision. He notes that Kang is the more well-rounded fighter, younger, and has better cardio. He believes Kang's 71% takedown defense and good grappling will keep him safe from Rani Yahya's submissions. He sees Kang having multiple paths to victory, including out-striking Yahya or using his own takedowns. He predicts a clear decision win.

win by decision
"give me congo kong to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Cody picks Kang but with low confidence. He notes that Kang often goes to split decisions and judges don't always favor his style. However, he believes Kang has the physical strength, judo, and grappling to implement a game plan similar to Ricky Simone's: box, defend the guard pull, pass, land a few strikes, and back out. He thinks Yahya is limited, with poor cardio and a one-dimensional guard-pulling game. Cody is not sold on Yahya's striking or wrestling improvements.

"i gotta go with mr perfect who of course ate low losses not exactly perfect but uh if he pl if he fights a near perfect game plan here he's gonna get"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Daniel Levi picks Kyung Ho Kang, citing his well-rounded skills and better cardio. He notes that Kang has never been submitted in the UFC and can scramble well. He points out that Rani Yahya tends to gas out after seven minutes, shooting from a mile out, and that Kang can take advantage of that. Levi believes Kang has more weapons and less damage in his career, making him the pick.

"i think he can scramble with hani even attack not with submissions but at least position positional-wise... i'm gonna go with him for a win here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Nov 19, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Lock leans Kang but is not confident. He notes Kang has a height, reach, and youth advantage, and that Yahya gasses out. However, Kang has been off for two years and Yahya is dangerous on the ground. Lock thinks Kang by decision is the most likely outcome, but also likes a round three sprinkle because Yahya fades.

Kyung Ho Kang by decision +200, Kyung Ho Kang round 3 +1400
"I'll say kyung ho kang I'll say kyung ho kang by decision for my prop but definitely a spot where I think that round three sprinkle is warranted."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Paul agrees with Cody, noting that Yahya has looked a bit sharper recently but is still a guard puller with terrible cardio. He thinks Kang's path to victory is sprawling and brawling, and that Yahya will likely flop to his back in round three. Paul is not confident because Yahya is crafty and has burned tickets before, but he leans Kang due to Yahya's limitations.

"yeah yeah you were taking yeah has anything changed probably not considering yaya was the one who got coveted and this guy already kind of had a gas tank issue so"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 15, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Rani Yahya

The MMA Guru picks Rani Yahya over Kyung Ho Kang. He notes that Kang gets lazy on top in later rounds and has poor cardio, while Yahya is active and experienced. He expects Yahya to lose the first round but win the scrambles in the second and third, reversing position and landing strikes. He predicts a 29-28 unanimous decision for Yahya.

"i'm going with rani yaya here over kyung hyo kang"
WIN vs Ray Rodriguez
Submission (arm-triangle choke) R2 3:09 · UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad · Mar 13, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rani Yahya 0 8 of 13 61% 42 of 65 2 of 4 50% 1 0 7:00
Ray Rodriguez 0 3 of 18 16% 15 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rani Yahya 0 2 of 3 66% 31 of 45 1 of 2 50% 0 0 4:41
Ray Rodriguez 0 1 of 4 25% 8 of 14 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Rani Yahya 0 6 of 10 60% 11 of 20 1 of 2 50% 1 0 2:19
Ray Rodriguez 0 2 of 14 14% 7 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rani Yahya 8 of 13 61% 0 of 3 1 of 2 7 of 8 8 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ray Rodriguez 3 of 18 16% 2 of 16 1 of 2 0 of 0 3 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rani Yahya 2 of 3 66% 0 of 1 1 of 1 1 of 1 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ray Rodriguez 1 of 4 25% 1 of 3 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Rani Yahya 6 of 10 60% 0 of 2 0 of 1 6 of 7 6 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ray Rodriguez 2 of 14 14% 1 of 13 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Rani Yahya

Big Brady picks Rani Yahya, emphasizing his superior wrestling and grappling. He notes that Rodriguez gets taken down in every fight and has been submitted multiple times, including by Chris Gutierrez. He expects Yahya to get the fight to the mat and finish via submission in the first round. He acknowledges the line might be wide but believes Yahya should win.

Yahya by submission, round 1
"Give me Rani Yahya first round submission."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Rani Yahya

Daniel Levi picks Rani Yahya via submission, believing Yahya's grappling will be too much for Ray Rodriguez. He notes Yahya's early submission series is dangerous, but if Rodriguez survives the first round and a half, Yahya may gas out. He suggests live betting on Rodriguez if the fight goes past seven minutes. He acknowledges Yahya's history of losing to wrestlers but thinks Rodriguez lacks the grappling to avoid a submission.

Live bet on Ray Rodriguez if fight goes past 7 minutes
"I do have to go with ronnie aye here however at the live betting if this goes past the seven minute mark and you start to see ronnie yaya huffing and puffing that's where you might take a live bit …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Mar 2, 2021 (11 days before fight)
Rani Yahya

Lock thinks Yahya might be worth the chalk despite the wide line, because Rodriguez 'does not look good.' He believes Yahya could snatch a quick submission. However, he hasn't run tape yet and wants to confirm. He's leaning towards Yahya but not fully committed.

"i think anaya might be worth the chalk next week... i feel like he could snatch up a quick sub"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 7, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Rani Yahya

The Guru considers Rani Yahya underrated in the bantamweight division and expects him to dominate with his grappling. He worries about Yahya's chin but believes Yahya can secure takedowns and control Rodriguez on the ground. He criticizes Rodriguez's UFC credentials, noting his submission losses and lack of stand-up ability. The Guru predicts a 30-27 unanimous decision for Yahya, with Yahya diving for takedowns at the end of each round to secure the win.

"ronnie yaya's going to go out there and show ray rodriguez the grappling ropes and get ray rodriguez to the ground and control him"
LOSS vs Enrique Barzola
Draw (majority) (29–28, 28–28, 28–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira · Mar 14, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Enrique Barzola 0 24 of 45 53% 58 of 83 2 of 5 40% 0 1 4:48
Rani Yahya 0 57 of 86 66% 148 of 187 1 of 2 50% 1 1 6:49
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Enrique Barzola 0 17 of 29 58% 20 of 32 1 of 3 33% 0 1 1:47
Rani Yahya 0 10 of 21 47% 33 of 49 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:04
2 Enrique Barzola 0 7 of 13 53% 35 of 44 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:01
Rani Yahya 0 6 of 17 35% 30 of 42 1 of 1 100% 0 1 0:58
3 Enrique Barzola 0 0 of 3 0% 3 of 7 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Rani Yahya 0 41 of 48 85% 85 of 96 0 of 0 --- 1 0 4:47
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Enrique Barzola 24 of 45 53% 12 of 30 5 of 7 7 of 8 19 of 38 1 of 2 4 of 5
Rani Yahya 57 of 86 66% 39 of 65 18 of 20 0 of 1 10 of 36 1 of 1 46 of 49
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Enrique Barzola 17 of 29 58% 8 of 19 3 of 4 6 of 6 15 of 27 0 of 0 2 of 2
Rani Yahya 10 of 21 47% 6 of 16 4 of 5 0 of 0 5 of 16 1 of 1 4 of 4
2 Enrique Barzola 7 of 13 53% 4 of 8 2 of 3 1 of 2 4 of 9 1 of 1 2 of 3
Rani Yahya 6 of 17 35% 5 of 15 1 of 1 0 of 1 3 of 14 0 of 0 3 of 3
3 Enrique Barzola 0 of 3 0% 0 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 1 0 of 0
Rani Yahya 41 of 48 85% 28 of 34 13 of 14 0 of 0 2 of 6 0 of 0 39 of 42
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Enrique Barzola

Daniel is confident in Barzola, citing his wrestling advantage and size at bantamweight. He thinks Barzola's wrestling defense will hold up and that he can take Yahya down or keep it standing. He predicts a decision win, possibly a finish.

"I think he's gonna have success here against Hani I think he actually ends his decision his decision weighs and gets a finish"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2020 (8 days before fight)
Enrique Barzola

The host picks Enrique Barzola over Rani Yahya. He notes that Barzola is in his prime and has faced tough competition, while Yahya has been beaten badly in recent fights and has been off for over a year. He expects Barzola to bully Yahya and win by TKO in the first or second round, provided he makes weight safely.

TKO in the first or second round
"Enrique barzola is gonna win by TKO in the first or second round"
LOSS vs Ricky Simón
DEC R3 5:00 · UFC 234: Adesanya vs. Silva · Feb 10, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ricky Simón 0 47 of 186 25% 52 of 195 0 of 9 0% 0 0 0:00
Rani Yahya 2 54 of 137 39% 66 of 150 4 of 5 80% 0 0 3:49
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ricky Simón 0 21 of 62 33% 22 of 64 0 of 5 0% 0 0 0:00
Rani Yahya 2 20 of 49 40% 21 of 50 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:45
2 Ricky Simón 0 19 of 82 23% 21 of 85 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Rani Yahya 0 11 of 43 25% 16 of 48 2 of 3 66% 0 0 1:04
3 Ricky Simón 0 7 of 42 16% 9 of 46 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Rani Yahya 0 23 of 45 51% 29 of 52 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ricky Simón 47 of 186 25% 29 of 159 10 of 14 8 of 13 47 of 186 0 of 0 0 of 0
Rani Yahya 54 of 137 39% 40 of 116 9 of 16 5 of 5 38 of 114 0 of 0 16 of 23
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ricky Simón 21 of 62 33% 11 of 46 4 of 7 6 of 9 21 of 62 0 of 0 0 of 0
Rani Yahya 20 of 49 40% 12 of 39 5 of 7 3 of 3 15 of 43 0 of 0 5 of 6
2 Ricky Simón 19 of 82 23% 12 of 72 5 of 6 2 of 4 19 of 82 0 of 0 0 of 0
Rani Yahya 11 of 43 25% 8 of 37 2 of 5 1 of 1 8 of 37 0 of 0 3 of 6
3 Ricky Simón 7 of 42 16% 6 of 41 1 of 1 0 of 0 7 of 42 0 of 0 0 of 0
Rani Yahya 23 of 45 51% 20 of 40 2 of 4 1 of 1 15 of 34 0 of 0 8 of 11
WIN vs Luke Sanders
Submission (heel hook) R1 1:31 · UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick · Aug 25, 2018
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rani Yahya 0 4 of 8 50% 4 of 8 0 of 2 0% 2 0 0:04
Luke Sanders 0 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:22
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rani Yahya 0 4 of 8 50% 4 of 8 0 of 2 0% 2 0 0:04
Luke Sanders 0 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:22
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rani Yahya 4 of 8 50% 1 of 4 1 of 1 2 of 3 4 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
Luke Sanders 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rani Yahya 4 of 8 50% 1 of 4 1 of 1 2 of 3 4 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
Luke Sanders 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 1
WIN vs Russell Doane
Submission (arm-triangle choke) R3 2:32 · UFC on Fox: Emmett vs. Stephens · Feb 24, 2018
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rani Yahya 0 17 of 20 85% 105 of 149 2 of 3 66% 2 1 9:57
Russell Doane 0 2 of 8 25% 15 of 30 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:22
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rani Yahya 0 14 of 15 93% 41 of 46 1 of 1 100% 1 0 4:07
Russell Doane 0 0 of 2 0% 2 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Rani Yahya 0 1 of 2 50% 60 of 98 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:38
Russell Doane 0 0 of 2 0% 11 of 22 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:00
3 Rani Yahya 0 2 of 3 66% 4 of 5 0 of 1 0% 1 1 1:12
Russell Doane 0 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:22
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rani Yahya 17 of 20 85% 1 of 4 14 of 14 2 of 2 2 of 5 0 of 0 15 of 15
Russell Doane 2 of 8 25% 0 of 5 2 of 3 0 of 0 2 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rani Yahya 14 of 15 93% 0 of 1 14 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 14 of 14
Russell Doane 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Rani Yahya 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 1
Russell Doane 0 of 2 0% 0 of 1 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Rani Yahya 2 of 3 66% 0 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 2 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Russell Doane 2 of 4 50% 0 of 2 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ray Rodriguez - Fight History
LOSS vs Rani Yahya
Submission (arm-triangle choke) R2 3:09 · UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad · Mar 13, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rani Yahya 0 8 of 13 61% 42 of 65 2 of 4 50% 1 0 7:00
Ray Rodriguez 0 3 of 18 16% 15 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rani Yahya 0 2 of 3 66% 31 of 45 1 of 2 50% 0 0 4:41
Ray Rodriguez 0 1 of 4 25% 8 of 14 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Rani Yahya 0 6 of 10 60% 11 of 20 1 of 2 50% 1 0 2:19
Ray Rodriguez 0 2 of 14 14% 7 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rani Yahya 8 of 13 61% 0 of 3 1 of 2 7 of 8 8 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ray Rodriguez 3 of 18 16% 2 of 16 1 of 2 0 of 0 3 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rani Yahya 2 of 3 66% 0 of 1 1 of 1 1 of 1 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ray Rodriguez 1 of 4 25% 1 of 3 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Rani Yahya 6 of 10 60% 0 of 2 0 of 1 6 of 7 6 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ray Rodriguez 2 of 14 14% 1 of 13 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Rani Yahya

Big Brady picks Rani Yahya, emphasizing his superior wrestling and grappling. He notes that Rodriguez gets taken down in every fight and has been submitted multiple times, including by Chris Gutierrez. He expects Yahya to get the fight to the mat and finish via submission in the first round. He acknowledges the line might be wide but believes Yahya should win.

Yahya by submission, round 1
"Give me Rani Yahya first round submission."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Rani Yahya

Daniel Levi picks Rani Yahya via submission, believing Yahya's grappling will be too much for Ray Rodriguez. He notes Yahya's early submission series is dangerous, but if Rodriguez survives the first round and a half, Yahya may gas out. He suggests live betting on Rodriguez if the fight goes past seven minutes. He acknowledges Yahya's history of losing to wrestlers but thinks Rodriguez lacks the grappling to avoid a submission.

Live bet on Ray Rodriguez if fight goes past 7 minutes
"I do have to go with ronnie aye here however at the live betting if this goes past the seven minute mark and you start to see ronnie yaya huffing and puffing that's where you might take a live bit …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Mar 2, 2021 (11 days before fight)
Rani Yahya

Lock thinks Yahya might be worth the chalk despite the wide line, because Rodriguez 'does not look good.' He believes Yahya could snatch a quick submission. However, he hasn't run tape yet and wants to confirm. He's leaning towards Yahya but not fully committed.

"i think anaya might be worth the chalk next week... i feel like he could snatch up a quick sub"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 7, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Rani Yahya

The Guru considers Rani Yahya underrated in the bantamweight division and expects him to dominate with his grappling. He worries about Yahya's chin but believes Yahya can secure takedowns and control Rodriguez on the ground. He criticizes Rodriguez's UFC credentials, noting his submission losses and lack of stand-up ability. The Guru predicts a 30-27 unanimous decision for Yahya, with Yahya diving for takedowns at the end of each round to secure the win.

"ronnie yaya's going to go out there and show ray rodriguez the grappling ropes and get ray rodriguez to the ground and control him"
LOSS vs Brian Kelleher
Submission (guillotine choke) R1 0:39 · UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai · Sep 05, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Brian Kelleher 0 1 of 3 33% 1 of 3 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Ray Rodriguez 0 1 of 5 20% 1 of 5 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:12
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Brian Kelleher 0 1 of 3 33% 1 of 3 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Ray Rodriguez 0 1 of 5 20% 1 of 5 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:12
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Brian Kelleher 1 of 3 33% 0 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ray Rodriguez 1 of 5 20% 0 of 3 0 of 1 1 of 1 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Brian Kelleher 1 of 3 33% 0 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ray Rodriguez 1 of 5 20% 0 of 3 0 of 1 1 of 1 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 2, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Brian Kelleher

Big Brady picks Kelleher, citing his durability (only one KO loss in 32 fights) and experience. He thinks Kelleher can take a takedown and submit Natividad. He notes Natividad is a brawler who gets hit a lot and has been KO'd in 9 seconds before. He predicts a second-round submission.

Kelleher by submission, second round; possibly a parlay piece
"give me brian kelleher and just taking a look at the line here um kelleher is minus 225"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Sep 3, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Brian Kelleher

Daniel Levi picks Brian Kelleher by guillotine finish. He notes that Kelleher is experienced and tends to beat lower-level opponents, but warns that Kelleher is unreliable as a big favorite. He acknowledges that newcomer Kevin Natividad has power and could upset if Kelleher underestimates him, but ultimately sides with Kelleher's experience.

Kelleher by guillotine
"i actually got brian keller here by a guillotine finish this weekend"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 3, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Brian Kelleher

The host picks Kelleher to win by first-round KO. He cites Kelleher's veteran experience, solid chin, and takedown defense. He notes Natividad's only loss was a 9-second KO and expects Kelleher to land a knockout punch early.

under 2.5 rounds at -120
"i'm taking brian kelleher to win this fight via first round ko"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Brian Kelleher

The MMA Guru picks Brian Kelleher, noting that his opponent Kevin Natividad (originally Ray Rodriguez was scheduled but changed) has a padded record with weak competition. He believes Kelleher's experience against top fighters will prevail, and expects a second-round submission. He mentions Kelleher's losses to high-level opponents and his ability to survive early pressure.

second round submission
"i'm gonna go with brian kelleher getting the job done by second round submission"
Expert Picks (4)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Rani Yahya

Big Brady picks Rani Yahya, emphasizing his superior wrestling and grappling. He notes that Rodriguez gets taken down in every fight and has been submitted multiple times, including by Chris Gutierrez. He expects Yahya to get the fight to the mat and finish via submission in the first round. He acknowledges the line might be wide but believes Yahya should win.

Yahya by submission, round 1
"Give me Rani Yahya first round submission."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Rani Yahya

Daniel Levi picks Rani Yahya via submission, believing Yahya's grappling will be too much for Ray Rodriguez. He notes Yahya's early submission series is dangerous, but if Rodriguez survives the first round and a half, Yahya may gas out. He suggests live betting on Rodriguez if the fight goes past seven minutes. He acknowledges Yahya's history of losing to wrestlers but thinks Rodriguez lacks the grappling to avoid a submission.

Live bet on Ray Rodriguez if fight goes past 7 minutes
"I do have to go with ronnie aye here however at the live betting if this goes past the seven minute mark and you start to see ronnie yaya huffing and puffing that's where you might take a live bit on ray rodriguez"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Mar 2, 2021 (11 days before fight)
Rani Yahya

Lock thinks Yahya might be worth the chalk despite the wide line, because Rodriguez 'does not look good.' He believes Yahya could snatch a quick submission. However, he hasn't run tape yet and wants to confirm. He's leaning towards Yahya but not fully committed.

"i think anaya might be worth the chalk next week... i feel like he could snatch up a quick sub"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 7, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Rani Yahya

The Guru considers Rani Yahya underrated in the bantamweight division and expects him to dominate with his grappling. He worries about Yahya's chin but believes Yahya can secure takedowns and control Rodriguez on the ground. He criticizes Rodriguez's UFC credentials, noting his submission losses and lack of stand-up ability. The Guru predicts a 30-27 unanimous decision for Yahya, with Yahya diving for takedowns at the end of each round to secure the win.

"ronnie yaya's going to go out there and show ray rodriguez the grappling ropes and get ray rodriguez to the ground and control him"