Career Averages - Andre Fili
Career Averages - Christian Rodriguez
Andre Fili
Christian Rodriguez
Andre Fili - Fight History
AJ picks Andre Fili as an underdog, doubting Oliveira's move to 145 after a broken arm and loss. He believes Fili can outbox him, being taller and longer, and that Oliveira's size bullying won't work at featherweight. He calls the -285 line on Oliveira crazy.
AJ sees Andre Fili as a live underdog at +200, believing Fili can catch Oliveira with straight punches. He notes Oliveira's awkwardness and potential quit after a broken arm, and thinks Fili's recent performance against Delgado shows he's sharp. AJ doubts Oliveira's move up to 145 and thinks Fili deserves respect.
AJ picks Fili as an underdog, citing Oliveira's poor defense, recent broken arm, and move up in weight. He thinks Fili's veteran savvy, reach, and clean punching will be key, and expects a competitive decision win or possibly a knockout.
AJ picks Andre Fili as an underdog, arguing that Oliveira's bullying style won't work at 145 where he loses size advantage. He notes Fili is a technical striker with good footwork and has looked sharp against tough opponents. He expects Fili to outpoint Oliveira, possibly by split decision, and calls Fili his underdog lock.
Angelo picks Vinicius Oliveira (Lock Dog) over Andre Fili, citing Oliveira's relentless pace and work rate. He notes Oliveira is always moving forward, throwing strikes, and mixing in takedowns, which leads to high DFS scores. He worries about Fili's low fight IQ and tendency to abandon game plans, but acknowledges Fili's wrestling experience. He believes Oliveira's busy style will overwhelm Fili.
Angelo picks Oliveira but is hesitant, worried that Fili might finally live up to his potential. He thinks Oliveira will outwork Fili with pressure, takedowns, and volume, and expects the fight to go the distance. He has a small bet on Oliveira and notes that Oliveira's last loss was to a top contender.
Angelo picks Vinicius Oliveira, citing his pressure and pace as key in a three-round fight. He has concerns about Oliveira's takedown defense against Andre Fili's wrestling, but still believes Oliveira's chaos and aggression will be too much. He notes he was more confident when Oliveira was fighting Giga Chikadze.
Cody picks Andre Fili as a dog, citing his reach advantage, veteran savvy, and improved wrestling. He believes Fili can implement a game plan of jabbing, matadoring, and scoring takedowns, exploiting Oliveira's wild, loopy punches and poor takedown defense. He notes Oliveira's first fight at featherweight and potential cardio issues.
Connor picks Fili, noting that Oliveira's style of marching forward with his face exposed is a liability against a technical veteran like Fili. He points out Fili has a fantastic shot and underrated head kick, and can replicate what Mario Bautista did to Oliveira. Connor acknowledges Fili's inconsistency but believes he can suck Oliveira into mistakes.
Lucrative James picks Vinicius Oliveira to win, highlighting Oliveira's unpredictable striking, explosive power, and speed advantage moving up to featherweight. He notes that Andre Fili, while tricky and durable, gets dropped often and has a questionable chin. James predicts Oliveira will land a knockout, as Fili's reaction time may not handle Oliveira's unorthodox angles.
Oliveira is a violent, aggressive striker who can finish. Fili struggles against aggressive fighters and is not a finishing threat. Oliveira should dictate the pace and land big shots, likely winning by knockout.
Oliveira will create chaos and find a finish over Fili within two rounds, as Fili doesn't react well to aggressive fighters like Oliveira.
Paul leans toward Oliveira, thinking he might clip Fili with a knockout, but is not confident. He notes Oliveira's power and size but acknowledges his recent submission loss and Fili's wrestling improvements. He seems to prefer Fili as a value play but doesn't fully commit.
The MMA Guru picks Andre Fili to win, possibly by decision or knockout. He believes Fili is better everywhere technically, with superior stand-up, wrestling, and conditioning. He notes Oliveira relies on early KO and will fade, while Fili has experience at higher weight and a good chin. He thinks Fili can counter Oliveira's wild offense and mix in takedowns.
Zane picks Oliveira because he is much more used to facing adversity and can walk through Fili's shots. He notes Fili has a tendency to leave himself open when countering and can be caught. Zane acknowledges Fili has a clean path to win but doubts he'll stick to it. He also mentions Oliveira's power and durability as key factors.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Fili | 0 | 62 of 141 | 43% | 70 of 154 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 0 | 1 | 0:59 |
| Jose Delgado | 0 | 94 of 169 | 55% | 103 of 179 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:36 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Fili | 0 | 19 of 39 | 48% | 19 of 39 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 |
| Jose Delgado | 0 | 23 of 46 | 50% | 26 of 49 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Andre Fili | 0 | 18 of 39 | 46% | 19 of 41 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 1 | 0:11 |
| Jose Delgado | 0 | 30 of 62 | 48% | 34 of 66 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:31 | |
| 3 | Andre Fili | 0 | 25 of 63 | 39% | 32 of 74 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:25 |
| Jose Delgado | 0 | 41 of 61 | 67% | 43 of 64 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Fili | 62 of 141 | 43% | 46 of 121 | 11 of 13 | 5 of 7 | 61 of 139 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
| Jose Delgado | 94 of 169 | 55% | 37 of 99 | 34 of 47 | 23 of 23 | 83 of 153 | 9 of 14 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Fili | 19 of 39 | 48% | 15 of 32 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 19 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Jose Delgado | 23 of 46 | 50% | 7 of 26 | 7 of 11 | 9 of 9 | 23 of 46 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Andre Fili | 18 of 39 | 46% | 16 of 36 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 18 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Jose Delgado | 30 of 62 | 48% | 9 of 35 | 15 of 21 | 6 of 6 | 22 of 49 | 6 of 11 | 2 of 2 | |
| 3 | Andre Fili | 25 of 63 | 39% | 15 of 53 | 7 of 7 | 3 of 3 | 24 of 61 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
| Jose Delgado | 41 of 61 | 67% | 21 of 38 | 12 of 15 | 8 of 8 | 38 of 58 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Delgado (-310); Fili (+250)
Round 1
Chris Tognoni is the referee. Early leg kick for Delgado, who follows with a jab. Delgado jabs the body then lands a hard body kick. Fili answers with a combination to back his foe up. Delgado is using a variety of kicks early. Delgado jabs the body, then alternates between an inside and ouside leg kick. Delgado moves forward on the attack and Fili buckles him with a short right hand. Delgado seems to have recovered. Delgado kicks the body. Fili answers with a body kick of his own. A straight left lands for Fili. Delgado goes back to the calf kick. Fili with another long left. Fili counters a low kick with a jab. A nice counter right lands for Fili. Fili flicks out a jab. Fili is doing well keeping Delgado guessing with stance switches and intelligent movement. Fili with a solid right hand. Shortly thereafter, he lands a takedown late in the round. Delgado stands, and the round ends with Fili attached to his opponent against the cage.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Round 2
Delgado kicks the body and is immediately countered. Delgago targets the legs as he circles. Fili works behind his jab. Delgado wants a takedown, but Fili denies it. Fili fires off a jab. Delgado kicks the body. Fili finds the range on a right. Delgado lands a spinning back kick to the body, and he follows it with a rear kick ot the body. He backs up Fili with a head kick, but it’s blocked. Delgado steps in with a right and he ups the aggression. He tested off with punches and elbows, then moves into the clinch with knees. Fili frees himself after a barrage from his opponent. Fili jabs high and low. Another jab lands for Fili. A high kick glances off Delgado’s head. They trade in the center of the cage, with both men landing. A hard inside low kick lands for Delgado. Delgado goes upstairs with a kick. Fili steps in with a right. Delgado shifts gears and secures a single leg takedown. He’s in half guard with a minute to go. Delgado drops a forceful elbow. Fili explodes to his feet and lands a right hand. A front kick digs into Fili’s body. Fili ducks under a punch and closes out the round with a takedown.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Delgado
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Delgado
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Delgado
Round 3
Fili comes out aggressive with a 1-2. A hard low kick lands for Fili. Delgado lands a jab to the body. A right gets through for Fili. Delgado has a high kick blocked. They trade in the pocket, but nothing clean lands. Fili is still leading the dance, but Delgado backs him up with a right, a kick to the body and a front kick down the middle. Fili moves forward behind a right. Another front kick to the body lands for Delgado. Delgado wraps a high kick around Fili’s gaurd. Fili fires back almost immediately. Fili attacks the calf. Fili with a glancing right hand. Fili pressures and kicks the body. Delgado moves forward and eats a knee. Delgado tags Fili with a right hand, and Fili clinches. Delgado rips an elbow on the break. Delgado lands a 1-2 and hten kicks the body. He backs Fili up with another right. Delgado jabs the body. An inside leg kick lands heavily for Delgado. Delgado stays busy with front kicks to the body. With about 30 seconds to go, Fili times a level change and gets Delgado down. Delgado gets up, but Fili plants him on his back again. Fili does his best to unleash ground and pound until the horn, but Delgado’s defenses are largely on point.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Delgado (29-28 Delgado)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Delgado (29-28 Delgado)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Delgado (29-28 Delgado)
The Official Result
Jose Delgado def. Andre Fili via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) R3 5:00
Angelo picks Jose Delgado, praising his spectacular striking and talent. He acknowledges Delgado's takedown defense issues but dismisses them because 'Las Vegas doesn't care about wrestling.' He notes that Andre Fili has been wrestling more lately but chooses not to warn viewers, implying that wrestling won't be scored heavily.
Big Brady picks Jose Delgado to win by first-round knockout. He loves Delgado's power and aggression, and criticizes Fili's chin and striking defense (51%). He believes Delgado will come forward with reckless abandon and knock Fili out early, calling it the best fight on the card.
Cody picks Delgado confidently, citing his knockout power and improved cardio. He notes Fili's path is wrestling, but Delgado's knees and takedown defense are deterrents. He expects Delgado to catch Fili eventually.
Connor picks Delgado, agreeing that Fili will get caught taking pictures. He notes Delgado's flow state striking and that Fili's defensive habits make him vulnerable to being timed.
James picks Rolando Delgado to win by first-round knockout. He believes Delgado's dynamic striking, speed, and power will be too much for the older Fili, who has been knocked out early in recent fights. He notes that if Delgado doesn't finish early, Fili can compete over three rounds, but his prediction is a round one stoppage.
The host picks Delgado to win by knockout, citing his power and speed. He believes Delgado's striking will be too much for Fili, who is inconsistent and aging. However, he is hesitant about the high price and would prefer a line closer to -185. He suggests looking at the KO prop if it offers value.
Paul agrees with Cody, noting Delgado's power and the old guard being replaced. He thinks Fili's wrestling path is possible but Delgado is working on it. He expects Delgado to win.
The Guru picks Jose Delgado, citing his finishing ability and size. He thinks Fili is finishable and may switch off in clinch exchanges, where Delgado can land elbows or knees. He predicts a nasty finish, noting Delgado's previous wins over Connor Matthews and Destroyer.
Zane picks Delgado, citing his fluid combination punching and ability to catch Fili when he gets predictable. He notes Fili tends to get finished when facing dynamic finishers, and Delgado is a natural puncher.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Fili | 0 | 64 of 182 | 35% | 74 of 193 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 1:42 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 83 of 174 | 47% | 95 of 190 | 1 of 7 | 14% | 0 | 0 | 1:35 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Fili | 0 | 22 of 63 | 34% | 27 of 68 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 29 of 64 | 45% | 29 of 66 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:35 | |
| 2 | Andre Fili | 0 | 23 of 69 | 33% | 23 of 69 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 29 of 56 | 51% | 30 of 57 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:28 | |
| 3 | Andre Fili | 0 | 19 of 50 | 38% | 24 of 56 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 1:42 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 25 of 54 | 46% | 36 of 67 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:32 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Fili | 64 of 182 | 35% | 52 of 164 | 6 of 10 | 6 of 8 | 62 of 179 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 83 of 174 | 47% | 49 of 130 | 8 of 13 | 26 of 31 | 69 of 157 | 13 of 16 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Fili | 22 of 63 | 34% | 19 of 56 | 1 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 22 of 63 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 29 of 64 | 45% | 13 of 43 | 4 of 6 | 12 of 15 | 28 of 63 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Andre Fili | 23 of 69 | 33% | 18 of 62 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 23 of 69 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 29 of 56 | 51% | 17 of 40 | 3 of 5 | 9 of 11 | 27 of 54 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Andre Fili | 19 of 50 | 38% | 15 of 46 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 47 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 25 of 54 | 46% | 19 of 47 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 5 | 14 of 40 | 11 of 14 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Rodriguez (-250); Fili (+200)
Round 1
With eight years separating the two, this featherweight contest could be considered one of the “passing of the torch” variety. Fili (24-12, 1 NC; 12-11, 1 NC UFC), 35, needs a win badly, as he has alternated them with defeats for his seven outings and is a loss away from a .500 UFC record. Rodriguez (12-3, 5-3 UFC) is a bit above the midpoint line, but he can scarcely afford coming up short as well given that he has dropped two of three. Something’s gotta give, and referee Mike Beltran will be there for it every step of the way. The 145ers touch ‘em up.
Rodriguez says hello with a long one-two, and Fili gets right behind jabbing and low kicks. Rodriguez gets in his face and busts Fili in the chops with a few punches, and a second combination backs Fili off. Fili replies with a crisp right hand over the top, but Rodriguez does not retreat for long and continue to pursue the taller man. Fili uses his range to keep Rodriguez at bay, coming up missing with a head kick and wiping his nose after. Fili keeps his jab going, and he reddens the nose of the younger man and kicks him under the armpit to boot. Rodriguez gets right in Fili’s face and punches him, and Fili changes stances and re-enters the pocket. Both men lob big punches at one another, with Fili clipping “CeeRod” with a few left hands.
Fili gives chase and wings a head kick, and Rodriguez shakes out the cobwebs and re-engages. Fili snaps out his powerful jab, and some damage is showing on Rodriguez’ face on several places. Fili styles on Rodriguez with his jab and short hook, staying out of the range of the biggest power. Fili’s jab is his best weapon, breaking up Rodriguez attacks. Rodriguez catches a body kick and rushes forward to take the vet down, hurling him to the mat like a sack of potatoes with 15 seconds to spare. Rodriguez rides out the remainder of the round on top.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Round 2
Both fighters get right back to business when the second round kicks off, as Fili opens up with his jab to get going with high kicks. Rodriguez throws back and ducks down to grab hold of a single, and when that fails, he spins with an elbow that goes wide. Rodriguez reaches his man with a head kick, and Fili takes it cleanly without flinching. Rodriguez stomps at the front leg, and when he comes out swinging, Fili is there to chew him up with jabs and calf kicks. Rodriguez sits down on a hard right hand, and his low kick after further gets Fili’s attention. Fili kicks his foe in the front leg, which is welding up and turning colors fast. Rodriguez wades in to brawl, and Fili meets him with his fists until Rodriguez gloms onto him and looks for a body lock.
Fili escapes to reset, and they bang it out for a few seconds, with Rodriguez nodding after taking heavy blows and getting his nose busted open. Rodriguez does land his own power punches, but Fili is more fluid and appears to be putting out a higher volume. Rodriguez swarms forward and misses the mark, allowing Fili to jack him in the jaw with a pair of straight punches. Fili chains a jab into a leg kick that freezes Rodriguez for a second, and “CeeRod” gathers his thoughts and returns to his own leg-based assault. Fili probes and prods with effective jabs, forcing blood to smear on the younger fighter’s visage. Fili clubs Rodriguez with a left hook, and he takes a jab to put two punches on the cheeks. Fili swaps stances and shoots for a takedown, with Rodriguez stonewalling him and kneeing him on the break. Rodriguez goes way wide with a spin, and the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Round 3
The featherweights bump fists and promptly punch one another square in the face. There are no feelers, with the jabs from both sides coming with some fire behind them. Rodriguez takes one or two and decides to tie the Californian up, where he knees him in the thigh several times while controlling him against the wire. Rodriguez lets loose with some punches before Fili strikes back, and the jab from Fili ends the exchange as they both gather steam for a second. Rodriguez leaps at Fili, and Fili lets him land so he can tee off on him with fast fists. Fili times a picture-perfect takedown to scoop “CeeRod” off his feet, putting the younger man down to the floor. Rodriguez scrambles, and Fili gladly hangs onto him from behind while looking for trips. Fili lifts Rodriguez up and slams him down with emphasis, although Rodriguez is still with it after bouncing his melon off the floor. Rodriguez scrambles well, getting to his knees in a hurry, and he spins out to split.
Rodriguez walks Fili down, looping punches at him that set up a head kick. Fili pecks with repetitive, painful jabs, and Rodriguez has no answer to them but tries to counter with a wheel kick that is so far away, Fili could have taken a picture of it on a Polaroid and developed it by the time Rodriguez was good to go again. Rodriguez gets mad, and he starts swinging up close and personal. Fili fires back with a vengeance, only to get clipped with a left hand that changes his course. “Touchy” grabs Rodriguez and bowls him over to the mat, landing some ground-and-pound until Rodriguez explodes to his knees. Fili tries a mat return with Rodriguez leaned up against the wire, and Rodriguez breaks off and just misses a slashing elbow. Fili’s jab is turning Rodriguez’ face to hamburger, and Rodriguez just nods at him looking for more. Rodriguez walks Fili down, briefly clinching only to let go so he can let his hands go. Fili intercepts two spinning moves, with Rodriguez tries to initiate a crazy final brawl but not getting it from the veteran. Fili ends the match by landing some shots, and when the dust settles, Fili plants a kiss on the defeated man’s forehead.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fili (30-27 Fili)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Fili (30-27 Fili)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Fili (30-27 Fili)
The Official Result
Andre Fili def. Christian Rodriguez via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Angelo leans Andre Fili, believing he is the more skilled fighter with better speed and cleaner striking. He notes Christian Rodriguez is a prospect killer but struggles against experienced, well-rounded fighters. However, Fili is unreliable and his chin is questionable. Angelo may change his pick later in the week.
Big Brady picks Christian Rodriguez, noting Andre Fili's recent decline and tendency to get submitted. He highlights Rodriguez's guillotine threat and believes he can snatch a neck if Fili shoots for takedowns. Brady predicts a second-round submission for Rodriguez.
Connor picks Fili because Rodriguez struggles against veterans who don't run into his defensive wall. He notes that Fili will stay at range, use jabs and high kicks, and not get drawn into a wrestling match. Connor points out that Rodriguez has shown an inability to adjust when his plan A fails, as seen against Melquizael Costa. He acknowledges Fili's tendency for catastrophic errors but believes Rodriguez won't capitalize consistently.
The host is a big C-rod fan but thinks he is being overappreciated, making him a chalky favorite. He notes a size advantage for Rodriguez fighting at 145 when he should be at 135, which gives some concern, but believes it's a matter of time before Rodriguez finds a submission opportunity and forces the tap.
The MMA Guru picks Andre Fili as an underdog, despite acknowledging Christian Rodriguez should win. He believes Fili's size, reach, and veteran savvy will be too much, and that Rodriguez can't finish him. He predicts a close 29-28 decision win for Fili.
Zane agrees with Connor, noting that Rodriguez's game is built for opponents who make mistakes, but Fili is a veteran who won't just run into his defense. He highlights that Fili's wrestling is tough to out-grapple and that Rodriguez hasn't proven he can beat a veteran like Fili. Zane is concerned about Fili's age and recent wins over older fighters, but still sees Rodriguez as unproven at this level.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Fili | 0 | 7 of 24 | 29% | 7 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 |
| Melquizael Costa | 0 | 27 of 56 | 48% | 27 of 56 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Fili | 0 | 7 of 24 | 29% | 7 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 |
| Melquizael Costa | 0 | 27 of 56 | 48% | 27 of 56 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Fili | 7 of 24 | 29% | 4 of 20 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Melquizael Costa | 27 of 56 | 48% | 3 of 25 | 10 of 13 | 14 of 18 | 26 of 55 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Fili | 7 of 24 | 29% | 4 of 20 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Melquizael Costa | 27 of 56 | 48% | 3 of 25 | 10 of 13 | 14 of 18 | 26 of 55 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
A veritable chasm of UFC-level experience separates the next two featherweights, with grizzled Team Alpha Male product Fili (24-11, 1 NC; 12-10, 1 NC UFC) looking to hold the line and remind folks he is still very much a factor. Like Fili, Costa’s (21-7, 2-2 UFC) tenure thus far has been somewhat inconsistent but fairly violent. Referee Jeff Hoiby draws the charge between the two, and the local man Fili has no time for a glove touch as he wants to get going immediately. Fili chases his foe around the cage, looking for his jab. Costa backs him off briefly with a pair of high kicks, and he doubles up on leg kicks as well. Fili walks through everything pitched at him to sling leather, including a right left hand that zips through his guard. “Let’s go Fili” chants boom through the building, and they both fire off head kicks. Fili’s gets his foe’s attention, with Costa smiling at him. They decide to throw caution to the wind for a moment and brawl with no interest in defense, and they tag one another cleanly but do not budge. Costa backs off and fires off a wheel kick, and he settles himself to chop at the Washington-based fighter’s knee with oblique kicks. Costa rips a kick to the ribs as Fili is marching ever forward, and he narrowly evades getting his chin checked with a low kick but still walks into a left hook. Fili blocks a high kick but cannot stop a body kick, and he plods forward, energized by “USA” chants. Fili whiffs on a head kick, unable to lock his foe down, and he brushes his shoulder when Costa misses as well. Fili blocks a kick and hurls one right back, and Costa breathes a sight of relief and strikes back with a high kick. Fili motions that he protected himself from it, and Costa stays on his bike prodding with oblique kicks. Fili connects with a heavy body kick, dodges one that comes back and makes a matador motion. Fili takes a kick and shoots in for a takedown, and when he hits it,
Costa wraps up a guillotine choke and wrenches with all his might. The Brazilian clings to the choke, which is not going anywhere as he has it tight as a drum with his right leg wrapped around Fili’s waist. Fili is fine until suddenly he is not, and he frantically taps out.
The stunned audience is silenced in a second, as the hometown fighter surrenders from the submission and walks off disappointed that he got caught. Meanwhile, Costa has just earned the biggest win of his career, and he goes off to celebrate with teammate Joanderson Brito who previously put Fili away in the first round.
The Official Result
Melquizael Costa def. Andre Fili R1 4:30 via Submission (Guillotine Choke)
Big Brady picks the underdog Melquizael Costa, noting that Andre Fili's durability is declining after many wars, and he was dropped and knocked out recently. He thinks Costa is younger, has more tools on the feet with hard kicks to head, legs, and body, and has solid grappling with seven takedowns in his last three fights. He expects a close fight going to decision, with Costa winning a close decision.
The host acknowledges the fight is close as odds indicate, but believes Fili's strength of schedule, experience, and unorthodox striking will shut down Costa's grappling. He expects Fili to win on the scorecards, possibly by split decision.
The Guru hesitantly picks Fili, noting he never likes picking him but sees Costa as getting 'fraud checked'. He values Fili's win over Cub Swanson and thinks Costa's loss to Thiago Moisés is a bad look. He expects Fili to mix in grappling in the second and third rounds and win a close decision.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Fili | 0 | 62 of 111 | 55% | 90 of 140 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:29 |
| Cub Swanson | 0 | 67 of 147 | 45% | 70 of 151 | 2 of 11 | 18% | 0 | 0 | 3:50 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Fili | 0 | 20 of 31 | 64% | 20 of 31 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
| Cub Swanson | 0 | 18 of 42 | 42% | 19 of 43 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Andre Fili | 0 | 12 of 29 | 41% | 22 of 39 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:19 |
| Cub Swanson | 0 | 18 of 35 | 51% | 18 of 35 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 2:27 | |
| 3 | Andre Fili | 0 | 30 of 51 | 58% | 48 of 70 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Cub Swanson | 0 | 31 of 70 | 44% | 33 of 73 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 0 | 1:23 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Fili | 62 of 111 | 55% | 43 of 86 | 7 of 11 | 12 of 14 | 53 of 101 | 9 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
| Cub Swanson | 67 of 147 | 45% | 49 of 118 | 13 of 22 | 5 of 7 | 52 of 126 | 15 of 21 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Fili | 20 of 31 | 64% | 9 of 18 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 9 | 18 of 29 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Cub Swanson | 18 of 42 | 42% | 12 of 31 | 4 of 8 | 2 of 3 | 13 of 36 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Andre Fili | 12 of 29 | 41% | 11 of 27 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 28 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Cub Swanson | 18 of 35 | 51% | 14 of 29 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 29 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Andre Fili | 30 of 51 | 58% | 23 of 41 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 4 | 24 of 44 | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
| Cub Swanson | 31 of 70 | 44% | 23 of 58 | 5 of 8 | 3 of 4 | 24 of 61 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Fili (-245), Swanson (+200)
Round 1
A featherweight banger many may be surprised never happened to this point plays out in the Octagon next. The unfair recipient of some recent shade, WEC vet Swanson (29-13, 14-9 UFC) has had plenty of exceptional moments despite never winning gold in the UFC or in the confines of the blue WEC cage. On the other hand, Fili (23-11, 1 NC; 11-10, 1 NC UFC) always welcomes a brawl but he is a loss away from holding a .500 record in the UFC. Keeping tabs on this dark horse “Fight of the Night” candidate will be referee Jason Herzog. The longtime veterans partially touch gloves, but they are amped up to compete against one another as they face off in alternating stances. A committed strike does not come until 25 seconds in, when Swanson lands a low kick and pushes out a jab. Fili answers with his own jab, and his lead leg gets kicked two more times in the process. Swanson reaches out with a left hook, and he ducks down directly into a flush knee. Swanson does not mind, as he keeps chopping at the lead leg of his adversary. Fili lets fly a head kick that gets through the guard, and he chambers and fires a body kick with his other leg to great effect. Swanson walks him down, hands fairly low, and he jumps forward to snap the head back with a jab. Fili strafes to the side, looking for a jab but getting jabbed back in the process. Fili stays far enough away to potshot with body work, and he dodges the largest of Swanson’s hooks along the way. Swanson sits down on a heavy leg kick, and he targets a straight right hand to the solar plexus. “Killer Cub” follows the punch with two more up top, and Fili motions that he did not take the strikes flush. Swanson does not believe it, and he bears down on the Team Alpha Male fighter and clubs him with a number of powerful punches. Fili splits off and ends up getting grabbed in the clinch, and he frames off with an elbow and gets two thudding knees to the body before they separate. Swanson continues walking “Touchy” down, and he slips off-balance when throwing a strike and is countered on the way down. Swanson gets up with no issue, and he keeps his guard up to block a few jabs flying at him. The round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Round 2
The fighters are so ready to get back to it, Herzog has to back them off before clocking in the round. They immediately start throwing, with Swanson aiming hooks and Fili trying to parry and counter. As Swanson keeps after him, Fili ducks down and hits a takedown. Swanson does not settle for being on his back, and he explodes back to his feet without concern. Fili jabs, and he gets countered by a Swanson right hook. Swanson reaches him with another right, and he smacks the front leg with a kick for good measure. Swanson gets off a big right hand, resulting in Fili grabbing hold of his leg to try to take the fight down. Swanson leans himself up against the cage wall, and Fili’s pressure slows the bout down to a crawl. Boos rain down, and Swanson tries to answer their call by escaping, to no avail. Swanson briefly gets his back away from the fencing, and Fili looks for a throw to put him back to it. Swanson elevates his foe briefly, and Fili realizes the threat and releases his grip so they separate. Swanson opens up with a right hand and a sharp jab, and Fili responds with a counter and shoots in on a takedown. Swanson looks around, irritated that he cannot stand and bang, but he otherwise defends the level change and remains on his feet. Fili gets spun around and has to keep his balance when Swanson sweeps the leg, and Fili breaks off to reset. Swanson pursues “Touchy” like a man on a mission, reaching him with power punches when he surges into action. Fili sits down on counters and knocks Swanson back, and he sticks his tongue out to celebrate. Swanson does not back off, instead plodding forward loading up on hooks that at least partially connect. Fili stops this in its tracks with a takedown shot, and Swanson is stuck against the fence with an elbow bouncing off his forehead. As the two move for position in the tie-up, the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Swanson
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Swanson
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Swanson
Round 3
The last round starts with a flurry, as Swanson walks Fili down with punches and gets kicked in the head as he comes in. Fili lands a solid punch to the body, and Swanson whips a head kick at him. Fili pushes him away and ties him up, but Swanson breaks free before absorbing a clinch strike. Swanson unloads with two punches, and Fili stuns him with a heavy left hook. Swanson swings for the bleachers with wide hooks, and Fili times one and shoots in for a single that puts Swanson down for a moment. Swanson climbs back up and gets away with a fence grab on his way up, and he defends himself from a lifted knee right before it tagged him. Fili knees him in the liver while they are clinched, and they dirty box one another. Fili gets just enough space to hammer him with an elbow, and a left hand from Fili on the break does not dissuade Swanson from following him around. Swanson punches his way in, and Fili lands last and perhaps a bit more powerfully. Swanson ducks an intercepting right hook to land his own right hand, and he blocks a head kick from close proximity to keep pressure on the Team Alpha Male product. Fili gets in his licks when trading hands with Swanson, and his short check hook connects several times. Swanson beans him with a right hand, and Fili sticks his tongue out and releases a counter that falls just short. Swanson leaps in with a right hand, and Fili kicks him on the calf on the way out. Swanson ducks a haymaker and accepts a leg kick so he can lunge forward with a left, resulting in Fili tying him up for a few seconds. Swanson pushes off and maintains his constant forward motion, no matter how hard Fili hits him. Swanson releases a bomb of a right hand that shakes Fili up, but Fili is quick to gather his thoughts and grab hold of Swanson to slow him down. Fili considers dropping down for a double, and Swanson gets free and wipes his hands off. Swanson blocks a head kick and just avoids a left hand so he can keep after Fili. Another two head kicks from Fili come, and Swanson avoids them and lets Fili have it with a final torrent of punches. Fili lets his hands go, and a wild exchange concludes the ultra-close fight.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Swanson (29-28 Swanson)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Swanson (29-28 Swanson)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Fili (29-28 Fili)
The Official Result
Andre Fili def. Cub Swanson via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Cody picks Fili but is not confident due to his recent knockout losses. He notes that Fili is younger and faster, but his chin is questionable. Cody believes Fili's volume and wrestling could give him an edge, but acknowledges that Swanson is a fan favorite who often gets close decisions. He warns that Fili needs to finish Swanson to avoid a controversial decision loss.
Daniel is picking Swanson as a plus 210 underdog, citing Swanson's path to victory via knockout and his strong performance against Hakim Dawodu at similar odds. He notes that Fili is hot and cold and can be chinned. He envisions a retirement moment for Swanson where he knocks out Fili and puts his gloves down in the Octagon.
The host does not discuss this fight at all in the transcript. The entire podcast is focused on the Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler fight, which is not on the provided fight card. Therefore, no pick is made for this fight.
The host picks Fili to win on the scorecards, but criticizes the -260 line as too high, saying Fili should be closer to -150 or -180. He expects a competitive striking battle that goes to decision, and recommends the over 2.5 rounds at -110. He notes Swanson is a live underdog at +210.
Paul picks Swanson, citing his experience and durability. He notes that Swanson has a history of winning close decisions and that Fili has been knocked out recently. Paul believes Swanson's volume and toughness will be key, and that he can win a decision or even catch Fili with a knockout. He also mentions that Swanson is a fan favorite, which may help in a close fight.
The Guru picks Andre Fili over Cub Swanson. He believes Fili is bigger, stronger, and more explosive at this stage. He notes Swanson's age (40) and size disadvantage. He likes Fili's low kicks and thinks he can finish Swanson by TKO.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Ige | 1 | 11 of 19 | 57% | 11 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Andre Fili | 0 | 8 of 33 | 24% | 8 of 33 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dan Ige | 1 | 11 of 19 | 57% | 11 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Andre Fili | 0 | 8 of 33 | 24% | 8 of 33 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Ige | 11 of 19 | 57% | 4 of 11 | 2 of 3 | 5 of 5 | 10 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Andre Fili | 8 of 33 | 24% | 7 of 28 | 1 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 33 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dan Ige | 11 of 19 | 57% | 4 of 11 | 2 of 3 | 5 of 5 | 10 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Andre Fili | 8 of 33 | 24% | 7 of 28 | 1 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 33 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ige (-175), Fili (+145)
Round 1
The UFC knew exactly what it was doing when it gave Ige (17-7, 9-6 UFC) the replacement of Fili (23-10, 1 NC; 11-9, 1 NC UFC) after Lerone Murphy suffered an injury. Booking these two featherweights together almost guaranteed post-fight bonus money, and it very likely could come in the form of “Fight of the Night” when the dust settles. Referee Jason Herzog will get to enjoy these two exciting competitors go to battle for three rounds or fewer, and friends will put their friendship on hold as they get after it. There is no glove touch. Fili does not hold back, racing towards Ige and throwing hands. Ige steels himself and delivers a fierce left hook when Fili advances, and he cracks him a second time on a second exchange. Fili uses a long jab to reach Ige before the Hawaiian can get to him, and he slips and moves left and right while changing stances. Ige whiffs on a short but dangerous left hook, and he closes in on Fili to tag him with a strong left. Fili returns fire, willing to engage in this kind of high-intensity affair. This is the worst idea for “Touchy,” who connects with a straight left hand but is standing directly in front of Ige.
Ige uncorks a bomb of a right hand that detonates on his foe's temple, sending Fili crashing to the ground possibly out cold. To seal the deal, “50K” likely snatches a $50,000 bonus check with one devastating standing-to-ground right hand, completely separating Fili from all senses.
Ige walks off, knowing his work here is done. Wow.
The Official Result
Dan Ige def. Andre Fili R1 2:43 via KO (Punches)
Angelo calls this a 50-50 fight. Dan Ige is a fantastic kickboxer with good BJJ and underrated wrestling, having defended 10 takedowns from Bryce Mitchell. Andre Fili has all the tools but a questionable chin and tends to brawl. Angelo thinks if Fili wrestles, he can win, but expects him to brawl, favoring Ige. He suggests this is a great live bet fight.
Big Brady picks Dan Ige to win by second-round knockout. He notes that Ige is durable (never knocked out or submitted), hits hard, and has fought top competition, while Fili has been knocked out multiple times and has questionable striking defense. He expects a stand-up fight where Ige's power and durability prevail, dropping and finishing Fili.
Cody picks Ige, expecting a close decision. He notes Ige's durability and power, while Fili has been knocked out before. He thinks the fight will likely go to decision, with Ige's superior hand speed and pressure being key. Cody also mentions the Apex environment may favor Ige's impactful strikes. He suggests a prop on Ige by decision or the over 2.5 rounds.
Ige has crisp boxing, high fight IQ, and a great game plan. He should be able to counter Fili's unorthodox striking and potentially mix in grappling to open up his boxing. Fili has a reach advantage but struggles to land big shots against disciplined strikers. Ige's experience and reliability should lead to a decision victory.
Paul also picks Ige, noting Fili's experience but questioning if his wrestling is enough to neutralize Ige. He thinks Ige's chin and power are key, and that Fili's volume may not be enough. Paul mentions a possible Ige knockout, but leans toward Ige on the moneyline. He also considers a sprinkle on Ige by KO in round 1 at +850.
The MMA Guru picks Dan Ige because he follows game plans well and performs against opponents just outside the rankings. He expects Ige to chop low kicks and work his way inside, finishing Fili in the second round. He notes Ige's wins over Damon Jackson and his competitive fight with Bryce Mitchell.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Fili | 1 | 20 of 36 | 55% | 25 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Lucas Almeida | 0 | 10 of 25 | 40% | 10 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Fili | 1 | 20 of 36 | 55% | 25 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Lucas Almeida | 0 | 10 of 25 | 40% | 10 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Fili | 20 of 36 | 55% | 16 of 29 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 15 |
| Lucas Almeida | 10 of 25 | 40% | 1 of 11 | 0 of 1 | 9 of 13 | 10 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Fili | 20 of 36 | 55% | 16 of 29 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 15 |
| Lucas Almeida | 10 of 25 | 40% | 1 of 11 | 0 of 1 | 9 of 13 | 10 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Fili (-175), Almeida (+145)
Round 1
Wasting little time, the second fight of the evening is on deck. In the featherweight category, Fili (22-10, 1 NC; 10-9, 1 NC UFC) aims to keep his record with the promotion over .500. His action-packed opponent Almeida (14-2, 1-1 UFC), who has a 100% finish rate and wants to lift his own UFC win/loss total above 1-1, will almost certainly meet him in the middle and trade. Before this happens, referee Jason Herzog clocks them in. The fighters do not touch ‘em up, and instead Fili pushes the pace immediately and starts cutting Almeida off. Fili dips and moves with capoeira gestures until Almeida tosses a low kick at him, and Fili checks it with a resounding thump. Fili replies with a body kick, and he absorbs a leg kick when advancing. Fili lets loose with a left hand, and Almeida takes it flush and tries to respond, but the UFC vet rolls with it. Almeida paws out a pair of leg kicks that miss the mark, and Fili slams a body kick home to offer something back. Fili ducks down low when Almeida swings at him, and he pops back up and dings Almeida with a left hook. Almeida continues working the lead leg when he finds openings, and Fili checks one or two but absorbs the brunt of them. Almeida turns his hips into a stern kick, and Fili gathers himself and jabs Almeida hard in the solar plexus. Fili rips a kick to the ribs, and he leans back from a head kick and brushes his shoulder dismissively. Almeida chops at the lead wheel, and Fili gives it back with interest. Fili sits down on a ferocious right hand during an exchange, knocking the Brazilian clean off his feet. Fili lowers himself down to finish the job, with Almeida’s eyes wide as he tries to defend himself.
Fili unleashes a lengthy barrage of hammerfists and punctuating punches as Herzog comes in close to consider the stoppage. Herzog backs off, and Fili continues to pelt Almeida with his fists until the gold-standard referee calls a halt to the matchup.
Almeida climbs back to his feet and tries to protest, but he learns he has moved to Wobble Street and can barely stand up on his own power. Fili sprints off to celebrate his handiwork, and lets loose some raw emotion after earning the huge win.
The Official Result
Andre Fili def. Lucas Almeida R1 3:32 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Lucas Almeida as an underdog, citing his real power and killer instinct. He acknowledges Fili's talent but distrusts his chin and lack of wrestling usage. He does not bet because both fighters are unreliable.
Big Brady picks Lucas Almeida to win by second-round KO, despite acknowledging Fili's wrestling path. He notes Fili hasn't wrestled much recently and isn't a dominant grappler like Pat Sabatini, so he expects the fight to stay standing. Brady highlights Almeida's 100% finish rate and power, while Fili has been finished 5 times and has a questionable chin. He believes Almeida will land a knockout as an underdog.
Cody picks Fili, arguing that Almeida is hittable and walks in a straight line. He notes that Fili has good footwork, a jab, and can mix in wrestling. Cody believes Fili will outpoint Almeida by striking and using takedowns to secure rounds. He expects a decision win for Fili, as Almeida's takedown defense is suspect and Fili is the more well-rounded fighter.
Jeff Fox picks Lucas Almeida as his dog, explaining that Almeida is a better striker and is fighting a guy on a skid. He thinks Almeida is a worthy gamble at plus 145.
Lucrative James picks Lucas Almeida as the value side. He believes Andre Fili has clear deficiencies in striking defense and chin, getting hurt in almost every fight. He thinks Fili's path is via wrestling, but Fili often chooses to stand and bang. Almeida hits hard, has good durability, and Fili's tendency to get cracked makes Almeida the play at underdog odds.
The host leans toward Fili but is not confident due to the chalk. He believes Fili's experience and grappling advantage should be the difference, as he can take Almeida down and grind out a decision. However, he warns that if Fili chooses to strike, he could get knocked out. He expects Fili to shoot multiple takedowns and win a decision, avoiding his first losing streak in the UFC.
Paul picks Fili, agreeing that Fili is the more experienced and well-rounded fighter. He notes that Fili has faced much tougher competition and has multiple paths to victory. Paul believes Fili's wrestling and striking will be too much for Almeida, who is a banger but lacks defensive skills. He expects Fili to win by decision or potentially by submission.
The Guru picks Andre Fili over Lucas Almeida, noting Fili has looked good even in losses and has a reach and range advantage. He believes Almeida lacks the KO power to finish Fili and that Fili's wrestling will be a factor. He predicts a 29-28 decision win.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathaniel Wood | 1 | 84 of 148 | 56% | 108 of 174 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:47 |
| Andre Fili | 1 | 58 of 151 | 38% | 76 of 179 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 2:55 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nathaniel Wood | 1 | 37 of 69 | 53% | 37 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:23 |
| Andre Fili | 0 | 17 of 49 | 34% | 20 of 52 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Nathaniel Wood | 0 | 10 of 15 | 66% | 34 of 41 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 |
| Andre Fili | 1 | 17 of 34 | 50% | 32 of 59 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 2:55 | |
| 3 | Nathaniel Wood | 0 | 37 of 64 | 57% | 37 of 64 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Andre Fili | 0 | 24 of 68 | 35% | 24 of 68 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathaniel Wood | 84 of 148 | 56% | 38 of 90 | 10 of 18 | 36 of 40 | 71 of 123 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 25 |
| Andre Fili | 58 of 151 | 38% | 45 of 134 | 7 of 10 | 6 of 7 | 53 of 144 | 3 of 5 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nathaniel Wood | 37 of 69 | 53% | 21 of 48 | 4 of 7 | 12 of 14 | 24 of 44 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 25 |
| Andre Fili | 17 of 49 | 34% | 15 of 45 | 0 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 17 of 49 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Nathaniel Wood | 10 of 15 | 66% | 4 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 5 | 10 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Andre Fili | 17 of 34 | 50% | 14 of 31 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 27 | 3 of 5 | 2 of 2 | |
| 3 | Nathaniel Wood | 37 of 64 | 57% | 13 of 33 | 5 of 10 | 19 of 21 | 37 of 64 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Andre Fili | 24 of 68 | 35% | 16 of 58 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 4 | 24 of 68 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Wood (-195), Fili (+165)
Round 1
Action may be the operative word for this featured featherweight affair, when Great Britain Top Team export Wood (19-5, 6-2 UFC) attempts to thrill his home city fans by taking on “Touchy” Fili (22-9, 1 NC; 10-8, 1 NC UFC). With upwards of 15 minutes to work, the two get after it as referee Marc Goddard stands by. Both men amped up, they race to the center of the cage without bothering to touch ‘em up. Fili instead sticks a left hand down the pipe, and Wood responds with a head kick. Fili drives a left hand down Broadway, sending Wood crashing to his seat. As Wood jumps back up, Fili just misses on a head kick that would have put him down for good. Fili settles down, and he aims a head kick at his man after resetting. Wood nails the lead leg to trip Fili up, but Fili is able to shake it off and touch him with several straighter strikes. The range of Fili is able to fluster Wood, as Fili chips away with low kicks and distance shots. Wood gets tired of taking damage, and he blazes forward, smashing Fili in the face with a flurry of fists. As Fili backs up to the wall, Wood lays into him and knocks him down to the floor. Fili falls to his back, and Wood is quick to pursue him and try to finish the job. Wood slashes down with elbows, opening a cut on the inner eyebrow to draw blood that leaks into his eye. Fili tells Goddard he is fine and to not intervene, and Wood beats on him with several strikes. Wood stands back up, feeling he will be better off upright, and he delivers a harsh leg kick that hurts Fili badly. Fili appears to have otherwise recovered from the strikes to the cranium, and he motions to Wood to get things going. The two trade jabs, and Wood gives chase and reaches Fili with an overhand right. Fili goes up high with a kick, and Wood just misses a massive right hook by a matter of inches. Fili showboats at him and even salsa dances a little, and the wild round wraps up.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Wood
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Wood
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Wood
Round 2
The featherweights are extremely amped up, and almost get going before Goddard can check them in. Goddard has to back them off, and when they start fighting, one jab from Wood shakes Fili up significantly. Wood walks him down but does not come in recklessly, as Fili wings a high kick in hopes of catching Wood coming after him. Fili circles away, and he tosses out another head kick. Wood jabs the body, and Fili whiffs on two punches. The power discrepancy for Wood is noteworthy, as he seems to sting Fili any time he lands flush. Fili’s volume answers Wood, and he strings several punches that surprise Wood. Fili drills his man on the chin with a barrage of knees, and Wood crumples to the floor a bloody mess. Fili jumps on top and is able to take his back, but he cannot pursue a choke from the position. Wood gets his bearings and musters himself out of the position and back to his feet, and as Fili returns upright, Wood manages to move around him to take his back and drag him down from behind. Wood is unable to hold him tightly in the position, as Fili spins around and takes top position. Both men take some time to clear out the cobwebs, with a stalemate largely ensuing as Wood closes the guard. Fili scores a few short punches, and Wood responds off his back with elbows. Fili stays busy from above as he remains tightly pressed to his man, sneaking in the occasional elbow or punch when he is not chattering at Wood. Fili drops down a hefty elbow, and the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Round 3
The two furiously begin the last round of action, and Wood clips his foe with a left hook and a jab. Fili tries to kick him reactively, and he is forced to get on his bike and back away to measure himself. Fili dodges a left hook and breathes a sigh of relief, and he peppers Wood with jabs. Wood loads up on his power punches, but one thumping leg kick does connect square on the inner calf. Wood swats out a few jabs, reaching Fili but getting sniped with a straight left hand. Wood forces a stance switch from his foe from a kick, and he times that to land another kick on the other leg. They snap out jabs one after the other, and Wood’s appear to be slightly more impactful. Fili’s jab is intercepted via a leg kick, and Wood slowly stalks him down and keeps his guard up. When Fili kicks high, Wood is able to block it, although his own counter misses. Wood chips away at the inside of Fili’s knee, and they both put speedy combinations on one another. “Touchy” crashes forward for a takedown, and Wood stonewalls him and breaks the grip. Wood lands a leg kick and shakes his own leg out from the check. Wood gets off a front kick to the body, and he defends against a sudden spin kick that is aimed at his dome. Wood allows Fili to come at him so he can knock Fili back with a left hook, and they proceed to trade vicious leg kicks as Fili lands awkwardly. Wood’s jab finds its home on the jaw, and he kicks the body as Fili ducks in for a takedown. Wood backs off and snatches up the leg, and he lets it go. Fili jumps at him with a high kick, and Wood laughs. In one final maneuver, Fili spins with a wheel kick that is feet away from his intended target, and the fight comes to a close. The two clap hands after a hard-fought battle.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Wood (29-28 Wood)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Wood (29-28 Wood)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Wood (29-28 Wood)
The Official Result
Nathaniel Wood def. Andre Fili via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Nathaniel Wood, believing a healthy Wood beats an inconsistent Andre Fili. He notes Wood's injury was just a cut, not a knee issue, so he should be fine. He does not bet the moneyline but may explore props because Fili is better than the odds suggest.
Big Brady picks Nathaniel Wood by decision, citing hometown advantage and volume striking. He notes Wood is undersized with a reach disadvantage but throws high volume (6.34 sig strikes/min). He thinks Wood can mix in takedowns and that close decisions will favor the London fighter. He admits the line should be closer.
Cody picks Wood based on volume advantage, noting Wood lands over 97 significant strikes in recent fights while Fili's career high is 98. He thinks Wood's wrestling and pressure will overwhelm Fili, and that Wood's chin issues were due to weight cuts at 135. He expects a 30-27 decision.
Daniel made this his first bet of the card, taking Nathaniel Wood at -180 to win 2 units. He highlights Wood's pace and volume advantage, noting Fili has never landed 100 significant strikes in a UFC fight while Wood has exceeded 130 multiple times. He believes Wood's calf kicks and pressure will neutralize Fili's reach, and that Wood's improved chin at featherweight (no longer cutting to bantamweight) is a key factor. He acknowledges the threat of Fili's head kick but trusts Wood's game plan to close distance and outwork him.
James picks Nathaniel Wood to win, calling this a potential coming-out party for him. He notes that Wood has deserved a big win and that Fili doesn't always rise to the occasion. He mentions that Wood is fighting in his hometown of London and that he thinks Wood will rise to the occasion. James acknowledges his bias as he is friendly with Wood but still believes in his skills.
The host picks Nathaniel Wood, citing his improved cardio at featherweight, patient striking, and ground game. He believes Wood's overall game will be too much for Fili, who struggles against higher competition. He predicts a decision win for Wood.
Paul agrees with Cody on volume, noting Fili lacks knockout power and has durability issues. He thinks Wood's wrestling advantage and pace will be key. He also likes Wood by decision and the over on significant strikes.
The MMA Guru picks Nathaniel Wood, calling it a no-brainer. He praises Wood's leg kicks, noting he may hold the record for most leg kicks landed in a fight. He criticizes Andre Fili's recent decline and skinny legs, and believes Wood's high guard will defend against head kicks. The Guru expects Wood to bust up Fili's lead leg and win by decision or late TKO.
Christian Rodriguez - Fight History
AJ favors Rodriguez for his technical sharpness, grappling, and youth, expecting him to outwork Amil's pressure style. He thinks Rodriguez can deal with Amil's blitzing and win a close decision, possibly by out-striking and using his craftiness.
AJ picks Christian Rodriguez to win by decision, expecting a three-round war. He believes Rodriguez is well-versed and can handle Amil's relentless style, though he shows limited enthusiasm for betting on this fight.
AJ picks Christian Rodriguez, citing his craftiness, technical striking, and grappling advantage. He notes Amil is a bullying pressure fighter but Rodriguez has faced better competition and should outpoint him. He expects a 29-28 decision, possibly with Rodriguez rocking Amil at some point.
Angelo picks Christian Rodriguez, noting his status as a prospect killer with wins over Raul Rosas Jr., Cameron Saaiman, and Jack Della Maddalena. He believes Rodriguez is scrappier and a better striker than Hyder Amil, and doesn't think Amil's wrestling is good enough to control the fight. He acknowledges Rodriguez's losses to older, established fighters but sees Amil as a similar young prospect.
Angelo picks Christian Rodriguez despite not being a fan, citing his better overall skills, pressure, and takedowns. He notes Hyder Amil has grappling holes and Rodriguez has a good chin. He expects Rodriguez to be the better fighter almost everywhere.
Cody picks C-Rod but is hesitant, noting his inconsistency and tendency to struggle against veterans. He acknowledges C-Rod's wrestling and youth but worries about his gas tank and strength at 145. He thinks Hyder Amil's durability, power, and cardio could make it close.
Connor also picks Rodriguez, noting that Amil is a physical specimen but fights like a young fighter and is old enough to know better. He believes Rodriguez's technical wrestling and top control will be key, as Amil is likely to charge into the pocket and give up takedowns. Connor acknowledges Rodriguez's mental hang-ups but thinks this matchup favors him.
Lucrative James picks Christian Rodriguez, citing his wrestling, grappling, and cardio advantages over Hyder Amil. He notes that Amil tends to gas and has poor wrestling, while Rodriguez is better in those areas. James expects a tough fight but believes Rodriguez's advantages will lead to a decision win.
Amil's constant pressure, cardio, and scrambling will cause Rodriguez problems. Rodriguez struggles at 145 and may fade as the fight goes on. Amil should win a decision, especially if his health issues are resolved.
Dias' grinding grappling style, high pace, and pressure will remind Rodriguez that he should be a 135er. Dias will put together a lot of control and damage against the fence, winning on the scorecards.
Paul picks C-Rod confidently, citing his wrestling advantage and Amil's poor takedown defense. He notes Amil has been taken down multiple times in recent fights and looks helpless on his back. He believes C-Rod will implement a wrestling-heavy game plan.
The MMA Guru picks Christian Rodriguez to win via decision. He believes Rodriguez is younger, more skilled, and has better anti-grappling. He notes Rodriguez should mix in takedowns to slow down Amil, who has bad takedown defense. He expects Rodriguez to weather an early storm and win on points.
Zane picks Rodriguez because Amil's aggressive, face-forward brawling style plays into Rodriguez's strengths. He notes Rodriguez is excellent at solving wrestling-based games and has a deep technical game, especially on the ground. However, Zane cautions that Rodriguez lacks power and can be a head case, but Amil's single-minded aggression should allow Rodriguez to find takedowns and control.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Fili | 0 | 64 of 182 | 35% | 74 of 193 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 1:42 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 83 of 174 | 47% | 95 of 190 | 1 of 7 | 14% | 0 | 0 | 1:35 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Fili | 0 | 22 of 63 | 34% | 27 of 68 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 29 of 64 | 45% | 29 of 66 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:35 | |
| 2 | Andre Fili | 0 | 23 of 69 | 33% | 23 of 69 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 29 of 56 | 51% | 30 of 57 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:28 | |
| 3 | Andre Fili | 0 | 19 of 50 | 38% | 24 of 56 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 1:42 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 25 of 54 | 46% | 36 of 67 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:32 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Fili | 64 of 182 | 35% | 52 of 164 | 6 of 10 | 6 of 8 | 62 of 179 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 83 of 174 | 47% | 49 of 130 | 8 of 13 | 26 of 31 | 69 of 157 | 13 of 16 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Fili | 22 of 63 | 34% | 19 of 56 | 1 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 22 of 63 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 29 of 64 | 45% | 13 of 43 | 4 of 6 | 12 of 15 | 28 of 63 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Andre Fili | 23 of 69 | 33% | 18 of 62 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 23 of 69 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 29 of 56 | 51% | 17 of 40 | 3 of 5 | 9 of 11 | 27 of 54 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Andre Fili | 19 of 50 | 38% | 15 of 46 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 47 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 25 of 54 | 46% | 19 of 47 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 5 | 14 of 40 | 11 of 14 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Rodriguez (-250); Fili (+200)
Round 1
With eight years separating the two, this featherweight contest could be considered one of the “passing of the torch” variety. Fili (24-12, 1 NC; 12-11, 1 NC UFC), 35, needs a win badly, as he has alternated them with defeats for his seven outings and is a loss away from a .500 UFC record. Rodriguez (12-3, 5-3 UFC) is a bit above the midpoint line, but he can scarcely afford coming up short as well given that he has dropped two of three. Something’s gotta give, and referee Mike Beltran will be there for it every step of the way. The 145ers touch ‘em up.
Rodriguez says hello with a long one-two, and Fili gets right behind jabbing and low kicks. Rodriguez gets in his face and busts Fili in the chops with a few punches, and a second combination backs Fili off. Fili replies with a crisp right hand over the top, but Rodriguez does not retreat for long and continue to pursue the taller man. Fili uses his range to keep Rodriguez at bay, coming up missing with a head kick and wiping his nose after. Fili keeps his jab going, and he reddens the nose of the younger man and kicks him under the armpit to boot. Rodriguez gets right in Fili’s face and punches him, and Fili changes stances and re-enters the pocket. Both men lob big punches at one another, with Fili clipping “CeeRod” with a few left hands.
Fili gives chase and wings a head kick, and Rodriguez shakes out the cobwebs and re-engages. Fili snaps out his powerful jab, and some damage is showing on Rodriguez’ face on several places. Fili styles on Rodriguez with his jab and short hook, staying out of the range of the biggest power. Fili’s jab is his best weapon, breaking up Rodriguez attacks. Rodriguez catches a body kick and rushes forward to take the vet down, hurling him to the mat like a sack of potatoes with 15 seconds to spare. Rodriguez rides out the remainder of the round on top.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Round 2
Both fighters get right back to business when the second round kicks off, as Fili opens up with his jab to get going with high kicks. Rodriguez throws back and ducks down to grab hold of a single, and when that fails, he spins with an elbow that goes wide. Rodriguez reaches his man with a head kick, and Fili takes it cleanly without flinching. Rodriguez stomps at the front leg, and when he comes out swinging, Fili is there to chew him up with jabs and calf kicks. Rodriguez sits down on a hard right hand, and his low kick after further gets Fili’s attention. Fili kicks his foe in the front leg, which is welding up and turning colors fast. Rodriguez wades in to brawl, and Fili meets him with his fists until Rodriguez gloms onto him and looks for a body lock.
Fili escapes to reset, and they bang it out for a few seconds, with Rodriguez nodding after taking heavy blows and getting his nose busted open. Rodriguez does land his own power punches, but Fili is more fluid and appears to be putting out a higher volume. Rodriguez swarms forward and misses the mark, allowing Fili to jack him in the jaw with a pair of straight punches. Fili chains a jab into a leg kick that freezes Rodriguez for a second, and “CeeRod” gathers his thoughts and returns to his own leg-based assault. Fili probes and prods with effective jabs, forcing blood to smear on the younger fighter’s visage. Fili clubs Rodriguez with a left hook, and he takes a jab to put two punches on the cheeks. Fili swaps stances and shoots for a takedown, with Rodriguez stonewalling him and kneeing him on the break. Rodriguez goes way wide with a spin, and the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Round 3
The featherweights bump fists and promptly punch one another square in the face. There are no feelers, with the jabs from both sides coming with some fire behind them. Rodriguez takes one or two and decides to tie the Californian up, where he knees him in the thigh several times while controlling him against the wire. Rodriguez lets loose with some punches before Fili strikes back, and the jab from Fili ends the exchange as they both gather steam for a second. Rodriguez leaps at Fili, and Fili lets him land so he can tee off on him with fast fists. Fili times a picture-perfect takedown to scoop “CeeRod” off his feet, putting the younger man down to the floor. Rodriguez scrambles, and Fili gladly hangs onto him from behind while looking for trips. Fili lifts Rodriguez up and slams him down with emphasis, although Rodriguez is still with it after bouncing his melon off the floor. Rodriguez scrambles well, getting to his knees in a hurry, and he spins out to split.
Rodriguez walks Fili down, looping punches at him that set up a head kick. Fili pecks with repetitive, painful jabs, and Rodriguez has no answer to them but tries to counter with a wheel kick that is so far away, Fili could have taken a picture of it on a Polaroid and developed it by the time Rodriguez was good to go again. Rodriguez gets mad, and he starts swinging up close and personal. Fili fires back with a vengeance, only to get clipped with a left hand that changes his course. “Touchy” grabs Rodriguez and bowls him over to the mat, landing some ground-and-pound until Rodriguez explodes to his knees. Fili tries a mat return with Rodriguez leaned up against the wire, and Rodriguez breaks off and just misses a slashing elbow. Fili’s jab is turning Rodriguez’ face to hamburger, and Rodriguez just nods at him looking for more. Rodriguez walks Fili down, briefly clinching only to let go so he can let his hands go. Fili intercepts two spinning moves, with Rodriguez tries to initiate a crazy final brawl but not getting it from the veteran. Fili ends the match by landing some shots, and when the dust settles, Fili plants a kiss on the defeated man’s forehead.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fili (30-27 Fili)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Fili (30-27 Fili)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Fili (30-27 Fili)
The Official Result
Andre Fili def. Christian Rodriguez via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Angelo leans Andre Fili, believing he is the more skilled fighter with better speed and cleaner striking. He notes Christian Rodriguez is a prospect killer but struggles against experienced, well-rounded fighters. However, Fili is unreliable and his chin is questionable. Angelo may change his pick later in the week.
Big Brady picks Christian Rodriguez, noting Andre Fili's recent decline and tendency to get submitted. He highlights Rodriguez's guillotine threat and believes he can snatch a neck if Fili shoots for takedowns. Brady predicts a second-round submission for Rodriguez.
Connor picks Fili because Rodriguez struggles against veterans who don't run into his defensive wall. He notes that Fili will stay at range, use jabs and high kicks, and not get drawn into a wrestling match. Connor points out that Rodriguez has shown an inability to adjust when his plan A fails, as seen against Melquizael Costa. He acknowledges Fili's tendency for catastrophic errors but believes Rodriguez won't capitalize consistently.
The host is a big C-rod fan but thinks he is being overappreciated, making him a chalky favorite. He notes a size advantage for Rodriguez fighting at 145 when he should be at 135, which gives some concern, but believes it's a matter of time before Rodriguez finds a submission opportunity and forces the tap.
The MMA Guru picks Andre Fili as an underdog, despite acknowledging Christian Rodriguez should win. He believes Fili's size, reach, and veteran savvy will be too much, and that Rodriguez can't finish him. He predicts a close 29-28 decision win for Fili.
Zane agrees with Connor, noting that Rodriguez's game is built for opponents who make mistakes, but Fili is a veteran who won't just run into his defense. He highlights that Fili's wrestling is tough to out-grapple and that Rodriguez hasn't proven he can beat a veteran like Fili. Zane is concerned about Fili's age and recent wins over older fighters, but still sees Rodriguez as unproven at this level.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 64 of 98 | 65% | 77 of 113 | 6 of 15 | 40% | 1 | 1 | 6:48 |
| Melquizael Costa | 0 | 65 of 105 | 61% | 159 of 208 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 3 | 4:53 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 11 of 14 | 78% | 12 of 15 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 1 | 0 | 2:07 |
| Melquizael Costa | 0 | 22 of 32 | 68% | 63 of 73 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 2:12 | |
| 2 | Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 19 of 27 | 70% | 24 of 33 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 1 | 1:42 |
| Melquizael Costa | 0 | 26 of 40 | 65% | 71 of 93 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 1 | 2:24 | |
| 3 | Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 34 of 57 | 59% | 41 of 65 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 2:59 |
| Melquizael Costa | 0 | 17 of 33 | 51% | 25 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:17 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Rodriguez | 64 of 98 | 65% | 36 of 69 | 23 of 24 | 5 of 5 | 29 of 53 | 26 of 31 | 9 of 14 |
| Melquizael Costa | 65 of 105 | 61% | 39 of 72 | 19 of 25 | 7 of 8 | 19 of 47 | 17 of 23 | 29 of 35 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian Rodriguez | 11 of 14 | 78% | 3 of 5 | 8 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 9 of 11 | 0 of 0 |
| Melquizael Costa | 22 of 32 | 68% | 5 of 11 | 15 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 9 | 8 of 12 | 10 of 11 | |
| 2 | Christian Rodriguez | 19 of 27 | 70% | 8 of 16 | 9 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 18 | 9 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
| Melquizael Costa | 26 of 40 | 65% | 21 of 32 | 2 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 11 | 7 of 8 | 16 of 21 | |
| 3 | Christian Rodriguez | 34 of 57 | 59% | 25 of 48 | 6 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 17 of 32 | 8 of 11 | 9 of 14 |
| Melquizael Costa | 17 of 33 | 51% | 13 of 29 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 27 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 3 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Rodriguez (-148), Costa (+124)
Round 1
If the UFC isn’t careful, a fight might break out in the cage with this next one. Having bounced back from his first career stoppage loss well enough, Rodriguez (12-2, 5-2 UFC) is looking to put himself on another win streak. To get that going, he will have to get past the recently renamed “Melk Cauthy” Costa (22-7, 3-2 UFC), a name more in line with Costa’s preference for the knockout—or, nocaute. Fists are bumped before they are traded, as the featherweights are joined in the Octagon by referee Fernando Salas Navarro. Costa pump-fakes several times to get started, setting up a high kick with it that does not get through. His low kicks do trip up Rodriguez, who hits his knees and bounces back up to tie Costa up against the wall. Rodriguez peppers the ribs with knees on either sides, and Costa responds with short punches to the side of the dome when not fighting to keep his balance. A body lock and trip from Rodriguez allows him to get Costa down for a split-second, only to have to settle for pushing Costa against the wire again. They jockey for position against the wire, and Rodriguez sells out to drag Costa down to the floor as they hit the ground together. They spring right back upright while still in the tie-up, with Costa stomping the toes and kneeing the body. Costa softens the side up with several punches, and Rodriguez finally hits the sweep he was looking for and puts Costa down. Costa gets back up as fast as he can, and he keeps his hand on the ground to defend himself from knees to the head. Rodriguez suddenly snatches up a brabo choke and twirls Costa around, and the Brazilian does not panic in the slightest and not only escapes it, but flips Rodriguez over to establish top position. Costa attacks the body with elbows, and when Rodriguez explodes back upright, Costa chases him with a single strike before the horn sounds to end the close round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Costa
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Round 2
Rodriguez is the initial aggressor in the round, taking it to Costa with punches and kicks. Costa pushes off with the ball of his foot, sending Rodriguez down to the mat for a second. Rodriguez jumps back up, elbows Costa in the noggin and initiates the clinch. Costa breaks free and plants a body kick on the side of his foe, and a second comes up short. Rodriguez jabs his way into a right hand, and Costa counters him with a clean right that drops Rodriguez to his knees. Rodriguez regains his footing and clinches heavily, and he fights off a sweep attempt and turns to avoid a slashing elbow when back tied up. They continue to deliver short strikes to one another, and Rodriguez lands his foot sweep and places Costa on his back. Costa returns upright after a second, where he re-engages in a clinch. Rodriguez ducks down for a level change, and Costa knees Rodriguez in the side of the head and hurts him badly. Rodriguez scrambles to try to keep himself in the fight and not taking much more damage, and he lets Costa’s punches rebound off his guard. Costa wraps up an unusual arm-in guillotine choke from the side, partially a bulldog choke, and Rodriguez stays composed and twists out of it. Costa throws Rodriguez to his back, blood streaming down the left eye of “CeeRod,” and he postures up to jack Rodriguez up with elbows and punches. Rodriguez attempts a guillotine off his back to stop Costa from hitting him, but Costa breaks out of it and drops down more strikes including an axe kick to the chest before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Costa
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Costa
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Costa
Round 3
Rodriguez races out of his corner to engage, where he kicks his way into close range and sets up a trip. “CeeRod” hits the sweep—the same one he has been attempting the whole fight—and Costa finds himself on his back playing jiu-jitsu. The Brazilian looks for a kimura in hopes of sweeping, and although he takes a clean elbow on the melon, he turns the tables on Rodriguez and takes his back standing. They continue to roll and twist, and Rodriguez keeps Costa tied up and bullies him to the fencing. Rodriguez uses his elbows to fluster Costa from up close when not looking for another sweep, and he takes Costa off his feet for a moment. Costa climbs back up, elbows his foe in the chin and frames off to take a breath. Rodriguez is quick to impose his weight on him, and he trips Costa up again for good measure. Costa stands and avoids an elbow that soars at him, and he gets pulled back to the floor. Rodriguez tries to take his back, and he slides off. “CeeRod” races back to his feet and rails Costa with a right hand, stunning him for a moment and giving him openings to find more punches and a step-in knee. Costa pushes off with a front kick, and Rodriguez shrugs at him. Costa knees him again, but not before getting clipped with a barrage of punches. Costa whiffs on a two-punch flurry and hits his back from an easy foot sweep from Rodriguez. Rodriguez sits up in the guard and drops down hammers, with Costa faded just enough to not offer resistance to force a standup. Rodriguez rains down a bombardment of hammerfists, including one raised from the ceiling all the way to the floor, and the crowd is loving it. Rodriguez keeps hammering away, and Costa survives to make it the distance.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (29-28 Rodriguez)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (29-28 Costa)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (29-28 Rodriguez)
The Official Result
Melquizael Costa def. Christian Rodriguez via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Connor picks Rodriguez, noting his excellent wrestling and grappling defense against powerful wrestlers. He thinks Costa's structureless, erratic style will play into Rodriguez's hands, allowing him to show offensive wrestling. However, he cautions that Rodriguez can be too defensive on the feet, as seen against Julian Erosa.
Zane picks Rodriguez, emphasizing that he is a much better fighter than Costa. He notes that Rodriguez has feasted on raw fighters who expect to blow him out, and Costa's experience and guillotine threat are concerns but not enough to change the pick. Zane thinks Rodriguez deserves to be a bigger favorite.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 44 of 82 | 53% | 55 of 93 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 2 | 2 | 3:20 |
| Austin Bashi | 0 | 23 of 50 | 46% | 32 of 60 | 3 of 18 | 16% | 0 | 0 | 5:41 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 7 of 18 | 38% | 9 of 20 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 2 | 1 | 1:14 |
| Austin Bashi | 0 | 8 of 13 | 61% | 11 of 16 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 0 | 2:16 | |
| 2 | Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 14 of 18 | 77% | 19 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:24 |
| Austin Bashi | 0 | 5 of 15 | 33% | 11 of 22 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 | 0 | 2:44 | |
| 3 | Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 23 of 46 | 50% | 27 of 50 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:42 |
| Austin Bashi | 0 | 10 of 22 | 45% | 10 of 22 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:41 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Rodriguez | 44 of 82 | 53% | 32 of 68 | 12 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 32 of 66 | 8 of 12 | 4 of 4 |
| Austin Bashi | 23 of 50 | 46% | 12 of 34 | 9 of 11 | 2 of 5 | 17 of 43 | 5 of 6 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian Rodriguez | 7 of 18 | 38% | 5 of 16 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 14 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Austin Bashi | 8 of 13 | 61% | 3 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 10 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Christian Rodriguez | 14 of 18 | 77% | 13 of 16 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 |
| Austin Bashi | 5 of 15 | 33% | 2 of 10 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 4 of 13 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Christian Rodriguez | 23 of 46 | 50% | 14 of 36 | 9 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 18 of 37 | 3 of 7 | 2 of 2 |
| Austin Bashi | 10 of 22 | 45% | 7 of 17 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 1 | 8 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
In three of his last four outings, Rodriguez (11-2, 4-2 UFC) has donned his prospect-killer hat while staving off an undefeated opponent. This comes to a head once more for “CeeRod,” as this time he battles Michigan-based up-and-comer Bashi (13-0, 0-0 UFC) in hopes of spoiling one more flawless record. Whether he succeeds or fails, referee Chris Tognoni will be on top of things from start to finish. There is a sporting glove touch to commence the featherweight scrap, and Rodriguez nails the newcomer with a right hand and a flying knee. Bashi takes them on the chin and attempts a takedown, only to be easily stuffed by the underdog. Bashi pushes Rodriguez up against the fence and goes all-in for a takedown, as Rodriguez sets him down in 50-50 position. Rodriguez snatches hold of a power guillotine choke, turning Bashi to the side and wrenching him to the floor. Bashi, still in submission danger, works his way up to his feet, and he wriggles out of the choke and backs Rodriguez off with strikes. Rodriguez feints with loud stomps, drawing reactions out of the newcomer every time. A head kick from Rodriguez gets up quick, and he changes levels to ground Bashi. Rodriguez waits to line up a legal knee when Bashi stands, planting one on the torso and retreating. Bashi follows him, considers a takedown and elects to leap on Rodriguez’ back standing up. Rodriguez controls Bashi’s right arm with both hands, looking to shake Bashi off of him. When he does not fall off, Bashi resets and hooks a triangle around Rodriguez’ hips. Rodriguez fights the leg grip and does not let Bashi get a choke in, and he forces Bashi to release him. Rodriguez pushes back to get enough space to strike, and he follows a strafing Bashi and flusters him with a stomp on the mat before spurring into action. Bashi clings to “CeeRod” where he elevates and dumps Rodriguez to the ground. Rodriguez sweeps him with relative ease, but he does not establish top control as he wishes to engage on the feet. Bashi ties him up with the clinch and pushes him to the wire, but it is Rodriguez who takes advantage of the close proximity with a spinning back elbow. Bashi tags him back with a right hand before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Round 2
A calm Rodriguez meanders out of his corner to commence the round, and he skillfully tags Bashi from afar without letting the relative neophyte score much back. Bashi dives in deep for a single and succeeds in putting Rodriguez on his seat, only for Rodriguez to get back up before one second elapses. Bashi goes for a double and scoops Rodriguez off the ground to put him down, and this time, he lowers himself into top position. Rodriguez elbows his man off his back while scrambling, and this allows Bashi to take his back and wrap his legs around the waist again. Rodriguez grips the ankle to turn Bashi about, and he uses elbows to further break the leg grip. Rodriguez peels his foe off of him and knees him in the belly, and he takes an elbow on the break. Rodriguez peppers out a jab and evades a swinging right hand, preparing himself for a takedown that inevitably comes. An irritated Rodriguez falls to his back, and Bashi quickly advances to three-quarter mount so he can hop to the side instead of full mount. Bashi works the body with knees all while maintaining heavy chest pressure, and Rodriguez still turns him around and thwarts a submission setup. Rodriguez pushes Bashi over and nearly sneaks into mount, and he pushes off the back of the neck to stand. Bashi tries to follow him with a spinning back elbow, and he is met with a knee on the jaw. Rodriguez cracks the newcomer with an uppercut and a right hand, and Bashi takes a breath and shoots. Rodriguez sprawls to keep himself upright, turning the corner to put Bashi on his knees. Bashi reasserts going for his takedown attempt, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Bashi
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Bashi
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bashi
Round 3
In three of his last four outings, Rodriguez (11-2, 4-2 UFC) has donned his prospect-killer hat while staving off an undefeated opponent. This comes to a head once more for “CeeRod,” as this time he battles Michigan-based up-and-comer Bashi (13-0, 0-0 UFC) in hopes of spoiling one more flawless record. Whether he succeeds or fails, referee Chris Tognoni will be on top of things from start to finish. There is a sporting glove touch to commence the featherweight scrap, and Rodriguez nails the newcomer with a right hand and a flying knee. Bashi takes them on the chin and attempts a takedown, only to be easily stuffed by the underdog. Bashi pushes Rodriguez up against the fence and goes all-in for a takedown, as Rodriguez sets him down in 50-50 position. Rodriguez snatches hold of a power guillotine choke, turning Bashi to the side and wrenching him to the floor. Bashi, still in submission danger, works his way up to his feet, and he wriggles out of the choke and backs Rodriguez off with strikes. Rodriguez feints with loud stomps, drawing reactions out of the newcomer every time. A head kick from Rodriguez gets up quick, and he changes levels to ground Bashi. Rodriguez waits to line up a legal knee when Bashi stands, planting one on the torso and retreating. Bashi follows him, considers a takedown and elects to leap on Rodriguez’ back standing up. Rodriguez controls Bashi’s right arm with both hands, looking to shake Bashi off of him. When he does not fall off, Bashi resets and hooks a triangle around Rodriguez’ hips. Rodriguez fights the leg grip and does not let Bashi get a choke in, and he forces Bashi to release him. Rodriguez pushes back to get enough space to strike, and he follows a strafing Bashi and flusters him with a stomp on the mat before spurring into action. Bashi clings to “CeeRod” where he elevates and dumps Rodriguez to the ground. Rodriguez sweeps him with relative ease, but he does not establish top control as he wishes to engage on the feet. Bashi ties him up with the clinch and pushes him to the wire, but it is Rodriguez who takes advantage of the close proximity with a spinning back elbow. Bashi tags him back with a right hand before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (29-28 Rodriguez)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (29-28 Rodriguez)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (29-28 Rodriguez)
The Official Result
Christian Rodriguez def. Austin Bashi via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Austin Bashi, believing he is a better prospect than those Christian Rodriguez has beaten before. He notes Bashi's well-rounded skills, particularly his grappling and improved striking. He thinks Bashi's wrestling and cardio will be too much for Rodriguez, who has been submitted before. He considers Bashi safe to bet on despite being a UFC debutant.
Big Brady is extremely high on Bashi, calling him the number one prospect from contender series. He notes Bashi is well-rounded, has great cardio, and can wrestle for 15 minutes, unlike previous undefeated prospects who gassed against Rodriguez. He acknowledges Rodriguez has beaten undefeated prospects before, but believes Bashi's cardio and durability will be the difference. He predicts Bashi wins by decision in a close fight.
Cody picks Bashi despite the high price, believing his wrestling and youth will overwhelm Rodriguez. He notes Rodriguez's poor takedown defense and weight misses at 135. He expects Bashi to secure takedowns and win two of three rounds.
Connor picks Rodriguez because of his experience and craft, despite being physically outmatched. Rodriguez is an excellent scrambler, patient, and persistent, and he has shown he can outlast stronger opponents like Dulgarian. Bashi is a great prospect, but this is a tough stylistic matchup for him. Connor notes that Rodriguez's boxing and positional grappling are high-level, and he believes Rodriguez's determination and fight IQ will carry him through.
Daniel thinks Rodriguez is in the wrong weight class (too small for featherweight) and has had issues with grapplers who gas, but Bashi has endless cardio and strong grappling. He predicts Bashi will have grappling success and win a decision, similar to Rodriguez's previous fights but without the gas issue. He notes the odds have moved from -190 to -270, making it a pass for betting.
Lucrative James leans toward Christian Rodriguez at plus 250, citing Rodriguez's proven track record against undefeated prospects. He believes Rodriguez is the better striker and has improved his anti-wrestling. He notes that Bashi is a strong grappler but making his UFC debut, which often leads to underperformance. He also mentions that Rodriguez is not a natural featherweight, which is a concern. He hasn't fully decided on a bet yet but sees value.
Rodriguez is a good scrambler and defensive grappler who can cause Bashi trouble in establishing dominant positions. He can then get the fight to striking, where he is the cleaner and superior striker, landing more damage and winning on the scorecards.
Paul leans toward Rodriguez as a dog, questioning Bashi's readiness despite his potential. He notes Rodriguez's experience against prospects and Bashi's greenness. He suggests live betting Bashi after round one if he comes out hot.
The Guru picks Bashi, impressed by his wrestling and experience. He notes Bashi's undefeated record (13-0) and better competition compared to Rodriguez's loss to Julian Erosa. He thinks Bashi's standup is better than R. Rosas Jr.'s and predicts a 29-28 decision, with Rodriguez having a good third round but not enough. He warns that Bashi sometimes fails to capitalize on takedowns and is open on the feet.
Zane picks Bashi despite acknowledging it's the wrong matchup for him. He believes Bashi's athletic upside, endless motor, and physicality will allow him to get early advantages and maintain them. Bashi is stronger and better put together than fighters like Raul Rosas, and he doesn't gas out like Dulgarian. Zane thinks Bashi's superior athleticism and cardio will be the difference, even if Rodriguez is more experienced.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julian Erosa | 0 | 35 of 88 | 39% | 39 of 94 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 0:41 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 33 of 75 | 44% | 33 of 76 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:19 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julian Erosa | 0 | 35 of 88 | 39% | 39 of 94 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 0:41 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 33 of 75 | 44% | 33 of 76 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:19 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julian Erosa | 35 of 88 | 39% | 27 of 73 | 7 of 13 | 1 of 2 | 33 of 84 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 33 of 75 | 44% | 26 of 67 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 6 | 31 of 73 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julian Erosa | 35 of 88 | 39% | 27 of 73 | 7 of 13 | 1 of 2 | 33 of 84 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Christian Rodriguez | 33 of 75 | 44% | 26 of 67 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 6 | 31 of 73 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Rodriguez (-205), Erosa (+170)
Round 1
Always willing to either add to his highlight reel or be a part of someone else’s, Erosa (29-11, 7-7 UFC) and his .500 record come to a head with Roufusport’s Rodriguez (11-1, 4-1 UFC). While “CeeRod” holds four wins on the scorecards, three of those have come in his last three outings. On the other hand, the last three walks to the cage for Erosa have ended in the first round. Whether it takes three minute or three rounds to get to a result, referee Nick Berens will be here for it from start to finish. The featherweights bump fists, and Erosa uses a front kick to keep Rodriguez away. Rodriguez passes right past it and puts his hands on Erosa’s face. Erosa is reddened up in a hurry from the quick punches from Rodriguez, and he answers with a pair of looping uppercuts. Erosa flicks out his jab, and Rodriguez dips down and smashes him in the face with a head kick. As they trade, Rodriguez’ mouthpiece goes flying, and Erosa sees it and decides it is time to brawl. They slug it out fast and furiously until Berens finds a moment to replace the gumshield, and they get right back to it. Erosa goads Rodriguez on, and he clips “CeeRod” with a right hand in the midst of a speedy combination. They both connect with powerful blows, and Erosa gets off a strong front kick. Rodriguez kicks his man upside the head, and Erosa tells him to bring it on. Rodriguez does just that. Erosa manages to get Rodriguez to take a step back with his own counters, and his front kick to the chest and face are able to keep the hard-charging Rodriguez relatively at bay. Rodriguez settles down and tosses out a low kick, and Erosa wags his finger at him and rings his bell an elbow. Erosa walks his man down and pounds him in the face with his fists, and Rodriguez responds with a flurry ending with a right hand that staggers Erosa back. Erosa gathers his thoughts and marches forward, a cut opened on the bridge of his nose, and he lets go with a head kick that is blocked. Another elbow from Erosa comes up short, and he catches a kick and bowls and trips Rodriguez to the mat. Erosa scrambles to take Rodriguez’ back and set up a body triangle, and he is quick to consider an armbar instead of going after the neck like usual. Rodriguez defends the possible submission and turns to his knees, and he manages to flip Erosa over. Erosa’s upkicks do not keep Rodriguez off of him, as Rodriguez leaps at him and punches him hard.
Erosa ignores them and grabs hold of a guillotine choke, and it is suddenly and surprisingly tight. Erosa tightens his legs around the waist of his foe and turns to the side, and falls to his back to complete the submission. Rodriguez tries to tough it out, but he is forced to surrender with seconds left on the clock.
Erosa sits up and shoves Rodriguez off of him when Berens intervenes, springing yet another upset and adding one more impressive stoppage to his ledger. The victorious "Juicy J" becomes the first fighter to finish Rodriguez as a professional.
The Official Result
Julian Erosa def. Christian Rodriguez R1 4:49 via Submission (Guillotine Choke)
Angelo picks Christian Rodriguez but with caution, noting that Rodriguez has been gifted decisions and has never faced a veteran as experienced as Julian Erosa. He acknowledges Rodriguez's slick striking and composure but points out his lack of finishing ability and the fact that Erosa is much larger and more experienced. Angelo warns that the odds seem wide for a fighter who lost to the last tough veteran he faced.
Cody picks Rodriguez, highlighting his youth, cardio, and striking advantage. He notes Erosa's history of getting knocked out and believes Rodriguez will overwhelm him with volume and power. He expects a finish, possibly in the first or second round.
Daniel Vreeland picks Christian Rodriguez to win, predicting his first UFC knockout. He notes that Rodriguez has handed prospects their first losses and that Erosa's chin is a massive liability. He advises Rodriguez to headhunt rather than engage in a technical battle. He believes Rodriguez will pass the Erosa test.
Christian Rodriguez is the slicker striker and one of the best prospects on the roster. Despite a height and reach disadvantage, he will crash the pocket, land combinations, and eventually drop Erosa, leading to a knockout or a club-and-sub opportunity.
Paul picks Rodriguez, citing his superior cardio and durability. He notes Erosa's knockout losses and believes Rodriguez's pressure will be too much. He acknowledges Erosa's length but thinks Rodriguez's pace will win the fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 48 of 76 | 63% | 97 of 135 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:19 |
| Isaac Dulgarian | 0 | 22 of 44 | 50% | 56 of 89 | 7 of 16 | 43% | 2 | 0 | 9:22 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 5 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Isaac Dulgarian | 0 | 9 of 11 | 81% | 36 of 49 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 2 | 0 | 4:48 | |
| 2 | Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 12 of 15 | 80% | 18 of 22 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Isaac Dulgarian | 0 | 8 of 11 | 72% | 15 of 18 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 4:11 | |
| 3 | Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 35 of 58 | 60% | 74 of 106 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:14 |
| Isaac Dulgarian | 0 | 5 of 22 | 22% | 5 of 22 | 0 of 7 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Rodriguez | 48 of 76 | 63% | 43 of 71 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 21 of 40 | 10 of 10 | 17 of 26 |
| Isaac Dulgarian | 22 of 44 | 50% | 17 of 39 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 14 of 34 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 9 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian Rodriguez | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Isaac Dulgarian | 9 of 11 | 81% | 7 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 9 | |
| 2 | Christian Rodriguez | 12 of 15 | 80% | 9 of 12 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 9 | 5 of 5 | 1 of 1 |
| Isaac Dulgarian | 8 of 11 | 72% | 5 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Christian Rodriguez | 35 of 58 | 60% | 33 of 56 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 28 | 5 of 5 | 16 of 25 |
| Isaac Dulgarian | 5 of 22 | 22% | 5 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Dulgarian (-192), Rodriguez (+160)
Round 1
Finding himself on a bit of a win streak, Rodriguez (10-1, 3-1 UFC) moves up to featherweight after some issues making weight in the past. He will attempt to become the first man to beat ferocious finisher Dulgarian (6-0, 1-0 UFC), who has yet to fight beyond the five-minute mark as a pro. The fast and furious action will be overseen by referee Chris Tognoni, who sharply exhales when the two men touch gloves to engage. Dulgarian flashes out a low kick, and when Rodriguez throws back, he charges like a bull to take the fight down. “The Midwest Choppa” succeeds in putting Rodriguez on his back on the first effort, and he postures up well to smash down with punches and elbows. Dulgarian sits down with a potential guillotine choke setup, and he lets go of it to lower himself down to go after an arm-triangle choke. When Rodriguez scrambles, Dulgarian drops down for an unusual Peruvian Necktie choke with his arm grip beneath his legs. Rodriguez turns through it, and he finds himself in a much deeper Peruvian Necktie. He grits it out, and he turns to put himself flat on his back as Dulgarian resides on top of him in half guard. Dulgarian continues moving until Rodriguez turns over, and he beats Rodriguez every step of the way with movement or strikes. Rodriguez stands back up, and Dulgarian drags him down immediately. Dulgarian clings on from behind, shutting down Rodriguez’ return to his feet. Rodriguez miraculously scrambles to get out of a precarious position, and he works his way back up. The doggedly persistent Dulgarian wrenches his foe down to the mat, and he lands in half guard where he sets up an arm-triangle choke. Rodriguez breaks the choke up, so Dulgarian lays into him with elbows that split his eyebrow open. Rodriguez turns to his stomach, and Dulgarian slams him in the side of the head with hammerfists. Rodriguez flips back over, and Dulgarian laces up an arm-in arm-triangle choke. When he feels the submission is not as tight as he wants it, he lets it go. Rodriguez scrambles to get to his knees, and Dulgarian hops on his back and chucks him down to the floor. Dulgarian softens him up from the sides with punches until Rodriguez stands up by leaning on the wall. Dulgarian reaches his career long professional fight as he completes the first round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Dulgarian
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Dulgarian
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Dulgarian
Round 2
The featherweights race out of their corners, and Rodriguez introduces himself with a jump knee that lands on the forehead. Rodriguez snatches up the neck while Dulgarian is surprised, and he jumps guard with a guillotine choke. Dulgarian wriggles his neck free, and he goes back to imposing his wrestling. Dulgarian manages to get control from behind, and Rodriguez turns around to nearly get top position before Dulgarian explodes to his feet. Dulgarian trips Rodriguez up to set him down to his knees, and when Rodriguez stands, he secures an almost immediate mat return. Rodriguez hits his seat and winces, and Dulgarian keeps himself very low to keep Rodriguez grounded. Dulgarian slings him back down to the canvas, where he tries to get back control before Rodriguez posts off his arms to stand up. Dulgarian pressures from behind when Rodriguez walks towards and leans on the cage wall. Rodriguez turns around to put his back to the fence, and he lifts up a knee to the body. Rodriguez lifts up a knee that smacks into Dulgarian’s chin, and Dulgarian thanks him by hurling him to the ground. Dulgarian immediately takes the back, hanging on from an opposite side before Rodriguez works his way upright. Rodriguez manages to get a little breathing room, and he reaches out with punches and an elbow. Dulgarian jabs the body and kicks his foe out, and Rodriguez responds with a short shot that might have stung Dulgarian. Dulgarian goes back to his wrestling, tripping Rodriguez to a knee and leaning on him against the fencing. Tognoni asks for them to stay busy when they stall out, and the round comes to a close.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dulgarian
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dulgarian
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dulgarian
Round 3
Beginning the last round, the pace and intensity of Dulgarian has dialed down a little. Rodriguez lands a few strikes from up close, and he succeeds in staving off two attempts. Dulgarian charges to go after a low ankle pick, and Rodriguez stands up and blasts Dulgarian in the side with a soccer kick. Dulgarian is on his knees, perhaps out of gas, and Rodriguez jumps on his back and easily gets both hooks in. Rodriguez flattens the undefeated fighter out and starts pounding on him from both sides of the head. Dulgarian turns to his back, and Rodriguez welcomes this so he can sit up and start pummeling him. Rodriguez follows his foe while spinning to his stomach, landing pitter-patter shots but not the damaging kind that will like force a stoppage. Rodriguez pops Dulgarian on the side of the head, and when Dulgarian sits up, he grabs hold of a rear-naked choke. Dulgarian survives by grabbing his foe’s gloves, and Rodriguez uses his free arm to land shots on the side of the head. Dulgarian controls one wrist, and he turns around and scoots himself to the fence. Dulgarian finds his way back to his feet with 90 seconds to go, and he is a spent force but still manages to get off a power overhand right. Rodriguez connects with a low kick and walks Dulgarian down, blasting him with a straight right hand to follow. Dulgarian eats a right hand and shoots, and “CeeRod” stops it in its tracks and stands. Rodrigeuz leaps forward with left hands until Dulgarian shoots for a double, and the Rodriguez stuff leads to him searching for a brabo choke. Dulgarian gets hold of a leg and tries to lift Rodriguez up one final time, and Rodriguez elbows him in the side of the head until the horn blares. The scores could go all over the map here, depending on how many 10-8 tallies are awarded.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Rodriguez (28-27 Dulgarian)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Rodriguez (28-27 Dulgarian)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Rodriguez (28-27 Dulgarian)
The Official Result
Christian Rodriguez def. Isaac Dulgarian via Split Decision (28-27, 27-28, 28-27)
Angelo is surprised Rodriguez is an underdog but thinks Dulgarian is a legit prospect with real wrestling and good striking. He compares it to Rodriguez's win over Raul Rosas Jr., noting that Rosas mauled Rodriguez in the first round before gassing. He believes Dulgarian has better cardio and fight IQ, and will get the job done. He sees this as a true test of Dulgarian's potential.
Big Brady picks Isaac Dulgarian to win by first-round TKO. He is impressed by Dulgarian's wrestling and ground-and-pound, and thinks he can take Rodriguez down and finish him early. He notes Rodriguez's takedown defense is not elite and Dulgarian's pace may be too much.
Cody picks Isaac Dulgarian, despite Rodriguez being a legitimate prospect. He highlights Dulgarian's elite wrestling pedigree (D2 champion, three-time state champ in all styles) and his first-round finishing streak. He notes Rodriguez has missed weight twice and is moving up to 145, which could be a disadvantage against a strong wrestler. He believes Dulgarian's pace and wrestling will be too much.
Lucrative James picks Christian Rodriguez despite acknowledging Dulgarian's early-round dominance and wrestling advantage. He believes Rodriguez will lose round one but come back in rounds two and three due to better cardio, scrambling ability, and superior striking. He also thinks Rodriguez has submission opportunities and trusts him to weather the storm, as he has beaten hyped prospects before.
The host considers Rodriguez one of the better prospects but notes he struggled to make 135 lbs and is now fighting at 145 lbs. He expects Rodriguez to give up some takedowns early but provide the most resistance Dulgarian has faced, allowing Rodriguez to work back to his feet and use his superior striking. As Dulgarian slows down, Rodriguez will clamp onto a submission after a poor takedown attempt.
Paul agrees with Cody, adding that Dulgarian trains at altitude in Colorado, which should improve his cardio. He notes that Rodriguez has been taken down and outmuscled early in fights, and Dulgarian is not the kind of opponent you want to face when moving up. He likes the under 2.5 rounds prop.
The Guru picks Isaac Dulgarian, emphasizing his NCAA Division 2 wrestling credentials and physicality. He criticizes Rodriguez for missing weight multiple times and having size advantages over past opponents. He believes Dulgarian's wrestling will be a level above Rodriguez's previous opponents, and that he will dominate with takedowns and ground control. He notes Rodriguez has good survivability but doubts he can overcome Dulgarian's pressure.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 83 of 161 | 51% | 92 of 173 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 2 | 1 | 3:12 |
| Cameron Saaiman | 0 | 73 of 175 | 41% | 87 of 192 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1:26 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 22 of 50 | 44% | 22 of 50 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 | 0 | 0:36 |
| Cameron Saaiman | 0 | 27 of 69 | 39% | 32 of 74 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 | |
| 2 | Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 19 of 27 | 70% | 28 of 39 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 1 | 2:25 |
| Cameron Saaiman | 0 | 8 of 19 | 42% | 16 of 29 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1:04 | |
| 3 | Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 42 of 84 | 50% | 42 of 84 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
| Cameron Saaiman | 0 | 38 of 87 | 43% | 39 of 89 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Rodriguez | 83 of 161 | 51% | 64 of 141 | 18 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 63 of 131 | 13 of 21 | 7 of 9 |
| Cameron Saaiman | 73 of 175 | 41% | 38 of 121 | 14 of 21 | 21 of 33 | 65 of 160 | 8 of 15 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian Rodriguez | 22 of 50 | 44% | 14 of 42 | 8 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 19 of 44 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Cameron Saaiman | 27 of 69 | 39% | 12 of 44 | 7 of 9 | 8 of 16 | 23 of 61 | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Christian Rodriguez | 19 of 27 | 70% | 17 of 25 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 15 | 3 of 3 | 7 of 9 |
| Cameron Saaiman | 8 of 19 | 42% | 4 of 12 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 | 8 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Christian Rodriguez | 42 of 84 | 50% | 33 of 74 | 8 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 35 of 72 | 7 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
| Cameron Saaiman | 38 of 87 | 43% | 22 of 65 | 6 of 10 | 10 of 12 | 34 of 80 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Rodriguez (-142), Saaiman (+120)
Round 1
A catchweight appetizer gets the blood pumping on the main card, as Saaiman (9-0, 3-0 UFC) puts his undefeated record on the line against Rodriguez (9-1, 2-1 UFC) at 140 pounds. Rodriguez missed weight by a whopping four pounds and was fined a percentage of his purse. Smith serves as the referee. No glove touch. Rodriguez presses forward and clips Saaiman with a right hand. Saaiman eats a knee, and Rodriguez flurries with punches. Rodriguez connects with a spinning backfist, ducks return fire and secures a takedown. He threatens with an anaconda choke, but Saaiman escapes. They return to their feet. Saaiman finds the mark with a body kick, but he is losing the striking battle at this point. Rodriguez follows a knee to the body with an elbow upstairs. Rodriguez lands another collar-tie knee. Saaiman probes forward with his jab, but the output is not where it needs to be yet. Rodriguez bleeding from a cut near his left eye. Saaiman pieces together a combination, started by his jab. Saaiman misfires on two spinning attacks. He shoots on a takedown in the closing seconds but goes nowhere.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Rodriquez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriquez
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Rodriquez
Round 2
Saaiman delivers an inside leg kicks, then throws a left hook upstairs. Rodriguez commands the center of the cage. Saaiman slams another kick into the Roufusport rep’s tight. Rodriguez narrowly misses a knee and shuts down an attempted takedown. He sprawls on a follow-up takedown, makes another pass at an anaconda choke but surrenders top position. Saaiman sets up in full guard and scrambles to the back. Rodriguez springs a reversal, climbs to the back and secures his position with a body triangle. Punches follow. Saaiman scrambles free, moves to the back and slides off. This has turned into a scramblefest. Rodriguez slips behind Saaiman and settles in a kneeling position before threading the needle with punches. Saaiman rolls into a heel hook, but Rodriguez defends without issue and wheels behind him. They finish on the feet.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Rodriquez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriquez
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Rodriquez
Round 3
Rodriguez paws with his jab from the center of the cage. Saaiman lands a low kick, then eats a left hook to the body. Saaiman clinches but releases Rodriguez into open space. A jab from Rodriguez buckles Saaiman’s knees. Saaiman backs him up with punches, connects with an uppercut and clangs a wild overhand left off the side of his head. Rodriguez lands an elbow in close quarters, circles on the outside and steps back into the pocket. Saaiman lets his hands go and throws in an inside leg kick. Rodriguez connects with a one-two. Rodriguez tosses the unbeaten prospect to the mat but allows him to get back to his feet. Saaiman circles on the outside, connects with another leg kick, eats a knee up the middle and answers with punches. He closes with a one-two and a spinning back kick to the body.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Saaiman (29-28 Rodriguez)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Saaiman (29-28 Rodriguez)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Saaiman (29-28 Rodriguez)
The Official Result
Christian Rodriguez def. Cameron Saaiman—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Cameron Saaiman as an underdog, believing Christian Rodriguez is overvalued after beating a 'high school kid' (Raul Rosas Jr.) who gassed. He thinks Saaiman's technical striking and potential wrestling could be key, but he's not sure if Saaiman will commit to wrestling. He plans to bet on Saaiman if the line moves favorably, possibly taking plus 3.5 rounds.
Big Brady picks Cameron Saaiman by close decision. He likes Saaiman's higher volume striking and cardio, and thinks his grappling is competitive. He sees it as a well-matched fight but leans Saaiman slightly due to his higher ceiling. He will not bet this fight.
Cody picks Rodriguez, highlighting his proven track record against prospects (beating Joshua Weems, competitive with Jonathan Pearce). He notes Rodriguez's excellent cardio, solid striking, and ability to escape bad positions. Cody contrasts Saaiman's rawness and tendency to get taken down, and believes Rodriguez's high fight IQ and grappling will be the difference.
The host picks Christian Rodriguez confidently, citing his technical advantages in striking, grappling, and Jiu-Jitsu. He notes Rodriguez's clean combinations and discipline, and expects him to exploit Saaiman's technical flaws. He predicts a decision win for Rodriguez.
Paul agrees with Cody, pointing to Saaiman's struggles against wrestlers (e.g., losing to Cody Stamann via takedowns). He notes that Rodriguez is more complete at this stage and has shown he can bully opponents on the ground. Paul expects Rodriguez to mix in takedowns and control the fight.
The MMA Guru picks Cameron Saaiman as an underdog over Christian Rodriguez. He believes Saaiman is better on the feet, more dynamic and versatile, with higher finishing potential. In grappling, he thinks Saaiman is more vicious with ground and pound, while Rodriguez is more positional. He also notes Saaiman is younger, taller, and more active, having taken no damage in his last fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 2 of 19 | 10% | 2 of 19 | 3 of 16 | 18% | 1 | 0 | 4:50 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | 0 | 29 of 52 | 55% | 83 of 115 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 7:30 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 of 0 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 1 | 0 | 4:02 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | 0 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 9 of 14 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:34 | |
| 2 | Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 of 4 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:48 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | 0 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 24 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:37 | |
| 3 | Christian Rodriguez | 0 | 2 of 15 | 13% | 2 of 15 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | 0 | 23 of 40 | 57% | 50 of 69 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:19 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Rodriguez | 2 of 19 | 10% | 2 of 15 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 3 | 2 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | 29 of 52 | 55% | 26 of 47 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 18 | 4 of 7 | 21 of 27 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian Rodriguez | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | 2 of 6 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 1 | |
| 2 | Christian Rodriguez | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | 4 of 6 | 66% | 2 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | |
| 3 | Christian Rodriguez | 2 of 15 | 13% | 2 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 2 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | 23 of 40 | 57% | 23 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 20 of 25 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Rosas (-225), Rodriguez (+190)
Round 1
Of the 26 competitors on the lineup, just one missed weight: Rodriguez (8-1, 1-1 UFC), who clocked in a pound heavy for his bantamweight meeting with surging youngster Rosas (7-0, 1-0 UFC). Rosas will be looking for his second UFC win before his 19th birthday, while the relatively elderly Rodriguez at 25 is also hunting for win no. 2 in the promotion. Grappling should be on display for this catchweight affair, one that will be joined in the cage by referee Keith Peterson. Nonsense has left the building, while former President Donald Trump is sitting next to Dana White. The fighters have no interest in touching gloves, and instead want to get right down to business. Rosas sprints at his opponent for a takedown, and Rodriguez easily stops it and gets pushed to the wall. A second try from Rosas trips Rodriguez to the floor for a moment, and he even lifts Rodriguez up in the air, but “CeeRod” keeps himself upright and knees the body. Rosas drops down for a single, and Rodriguez defends it by punching and elbowing Rosas in the face. “El Nino Problema” whips Rodriguez down to the mat, and he moves straight into half guard and shifts to side control. Rosas snatches up a guillotine choke, and Rodriguez times this perfectly to flip over him and gain dominant position. Rosas explodes back to his feet before falling victim to a potential submission, and he pushes Rodriguez up to the wire. Rosas clasps his hands around the waist, and Rodriguez remains upright and has his mouthpiece knocked out by a jump knee from his opponent. Rosas yanks Rodriguez down to the floor, and Rodriguez stands up. Rosas jumps on his back and hooks his legs around the waist for a body triangle, and he hunts for a rear-naked choke. The forearm is not under the neck and is more of a face crank, but Rodriguez grits it out and fights the hands to stop the choke from succeeding. Rosas resets it and secures the arm on the jaw, and he squeezes with all his might. Rodriguez lowers himself to the floor, and he protects himself by hand-fighting again. Rosas secures the body triangle again, crushing down below the ribs, and Rodriguez attempts to turn over. Rosas looks to switch for an armbar setup, but he bails on it to hang on until the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rosas
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rosas
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rosas
Round 2
The two fighters meet in the middle, and Rosas instantly starts the round by shooting for a single. Rodriguez bowls him over and pushes the youngster to the mat. Briefly taking side control, Rodriguez cannot keep him down and stands up. He greets Rosas with a knee and an elbow, and Rosas holds on and drops down for a failed single. Rodriguez pushes him off and steps back from a spinning back kick, and he attacks another takedown and manages to take Rodriguez’ back standing. The 18-year-old, who appears to be fading slightly, pulls Rodriguez down to the floor momentarily. Rodriguez climbs back up with the wall behind him, and he looks to grab Rosas’ leg from behind his own. Rosas falls to his back, and he throws his legs up for a potential inverted triangle setup. Rodriguez shrugs it off and moves to north-south position, and he shifts over to half guard and drops down an elbow. Rosas rolls and scrambles wildly, but Rodriguez follows him every step of the way and winds up in side control, elbowing the body. Rosas attempts to push off the wall with his feet, and he rolls to his knees and gives up his back. Rodriguez bullies Rosas down to the floor, and he locks up the body triangle and gains possession of the back. Rosas turns over, and Rodriguez slugs him in the side of the head a few times while maintaining the body lock. Rodriguez sets up a rear-naked choke, and he softens “El Nino Problema” up with his right hand. Rodriguez maintains his leg grip tight as a drum, and he rides out the round on the back.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Round 3
The final round kicks off, and this time, Rosas does not frantically shoot for takedown. Rodriguez catches him with a right hand, and he times a leaping Rosas with another overhand right. The punches of Rodriguez slightly dislodge the youngster’s mouthpiece, and he bears down on him and slugs him a few more times. Rosas charges for a takedown, and he releases the grip when it fails. Rodriguez stops it and stands up, and he meanders towards his opponent and staves off another entry. Rosas leaps forward with a left hand, and Rodriguez whiffs on a counter. The 18-year-old ends up giving up his back when shooting in for a takedown, and Rodriguez pummels him until throwing Rosas down to the ground and claiming the mount position. The calm Rodriguez flattens his prey out briefly, and he pounds on him with unblocked punches. Rodriguez postures up and slowly, methodically beats on Rosas, who latches onto his left arm with all his might. Rodriguez elbows behind the ear, and he wraps up the body lock and takes the back. Rodriguez plants his elbow on Rosas’ dome, and he considers a choke but elects to keep punching Rosas. Rodriguez threatens with rear-naked choke setups from both arms, and he looks to shift over to mount but instead fastens his grip for a face crank. Rosas twists and turns, but Rodriguez is wise to every move and smacks him around. With 20 seconds to spare, Rodriguez releases his leg grip and stands back up. Rodriguez eats a left hand and nails Rosas with a few left hands of his own. The fight comes to a close, and the undefeated record of the 18-year-old is about to go up in smoke.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Rodriguez (29-27 Rodriguez)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Rodriguez (29-27 Rodriguez)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (29-28 Rodriguez)
The Official Result
Christian Rodriguez def. Raul Rosas Jr. via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo is confident in Raul Rosas Jr., noting that Christian Rodriguez has been taken down 10 times in the UFC, and Raul is a relentless grappler who doesn't let people up. He thinks it's that simple: Raul will take him down and control him. He has a moneyline bet at -185 and expects the line to move further in Raul's favor.
Big Brady picks Raul Rosas Jr. to win by first-round submission, impressed by his grappling and maturity. He notes that Rodriguez has been taken down by previous opponents and that Rosas has elite BJJ. He warns about Rodriguez's guillotine but believes Rosas will be wise to it. He predicts an early finish.
Cody picks Rosas, arguing that despite his age, he is rapidly improving and his wrestling should be effective against Rodriguez, who has poor takedown defense. Cody notes that Rodriguez is still developing himself and the gap between an 18-year-old and a 25-year-old isn't huge. He believes Rosas' physical maturity and grappling will carry him, and that the price is fair. He acknowledges Rosas may eventually be humbled but not here.
Connor picks Rosas because Rodriguez takes himself out of position and fights into the clinch, where Rosas excels. Rosas is a great back-taker and crushing positional grappler. Rodriguez showed vulnerability to takedowns against Joshua Weems, and Rosas is a much better grappler. Connor doesn't see anything in Rodriguez's game that suggests he can stay off the ground or win if taken down.
Jacob is also confident in Raul, sharing a story about how Raul started grappling after being out-grappled once, showing his natural talent. He notes that Christian Rodriguez likes to scramble, which will lead to Raul taking his back. He predicts a finish after the first takedown.
Rodriguez is a well-rounded prospect with pinpoint striking and good scrambles. Rosas is a young grappling phenom but his striking is raw and he makes positional mistakes. Rodriguez has the composure to reverse positions and keep the fight standing, where he has a clear advantage. I think Rosas's overzealous grappling will be exploited, and Rodriguez wins by knockout or decision.
Paul picks Rodriguez as a dog but is hesitant. He questions Rosas' striking and notes that if Rodriguez can survive the early rounds and get back to his feet, he has a striking advantage. Paul points out Rodriguez's good scrambling and ability to land shots. He also mentions the Florida crowd might favor exciting striking over grinding wrestling. However, he acknowledges Rosas' wrestling is a threat and that Rodriguez has poor takedown defense.
The MMA Guru picks Raul Rosas Jr. to win by second-round submission via face crank. He initially thought decision but changed due to Rodriguez's bad weight cut. He expects Rodriguez to do well early but fade, with Rosas taking over in scrambles and eventually sinking in a choke over the jaw. He describes a detailed grappling sequence leading to the tap.
Zane picks Rosas because Rodriguez's takedown defense is poor, as seen against Weems. Rosas is an aggressive grappler with excellent back-taking and ground control. Zane notes that Rodriguez's record shows submissions, but he doesn't see anything that suggests he can avoid being taken down and controlled by Rosas.
Expert Picks (6)
Angelo leans Andre Fili, believing he is the more skilled fighter with better speed and cleaner striking. He notes Christian Rodriguez is a prospect killer but struggles against experienced, well-rounded fighters. However, Fili is unreliable and his chin is questionable. Angelo may change his pick later in the week.
Big Brady picks Christian Rodriguez, noting Andre Fili's recent decline and tendency to get submitted. He highlights Rodriguez's guillotine threat and believes he can snatch a neck if Fili shoots for takedowns. Brady predicts a second-round submission for Rodriguez.
Connor picks Fili because Rodriguez struggles against veterans who don't run into his defensive wall. He notes that Fili will stay at range, use jabs and high kicks, and not get drawn into a wrestling match. Connor points out that Rodriguez has shown an inability to adjust when his plan A fails, as seen against Melquizael Costa. He acknowledges Fili's tendency for catastrophic errors but believes Rodriguez won't capitalize consistently.
The host is a big C-rod fan but thinks he is being overappreciated, making him a chalky favorite. He notes a size advantage for Rodriguez fighting at 145 when he should be at 135, which gives some concern, but believes it's a matter of time before Rodriguez finds a submission opportunity and forces the tap.
The MMA Guru picks Andre Fili as an underdog, despite acknowledging Christian Rodriguez should win. He believes Fili's size, reach, and veteran savvy will be too much, and that Rodriguez can't finish him. He predicts a close 29-28 decision win for Fili.
Zane agrees with Connor, noting that Rodriguez's game is built for opponents who make mistakes, but Fili is a veteran who won't just run into his defense. He highlights that Fili's wrestling is tough to out-grapple and that Rodriguez hasn't proven he can beat a veteran like Fili. Zane is concerned about Fili's age and recent wins over older fighters, but still sees Rodriguez as unproven at this level.
Comments (1)
Rod was disappointing in this fight. Should have wrestled more ect given Andre last performance. Ultimately he has to go back to 135. He doesn't have a range and struggles wrestling which Andre exploited for an easy win
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!