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UFC Vegas 98 takes place Saturday, so it's time to break down the top fights, plus make DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
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Back to welterweight for Vegas 98
Rodriguez is scheduled to compete against Alex Morono in a welterweight fight at UFC Vegas 98 on Oct. 12, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Rodriguez's last fight was to Kelvin Gastelum at middleweight, continuing the former's losing streak to three. Following the third defeat, Rodriguez will move back to welterweight and fight Morono, who has alternated between winning and losing across his last six bouts.
Rodriguez's last fight was to Kelvin Gastelum at middleweight, continuing the former's losing streak to three. Following the third defeat, Rodriguez will move back to welterweight and fight Morono, who has alternated between winning and losing across his last six bouts.
Suffers third straight defeat
Rodriguez lost to Kelvin Gastelum via unanimous decision (27-30, 27-30, 28-29) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
ANALYSIS
Fresh off a six-month suspension for a failed drug test, Rodriguez drops his third straight fight. Of course, he was the victim of some bad luck here. This fight was originally due to be contested at 170 pounds, but Gastelum announced late in the week he would be unable to cut down. Apparently even an 180-pound catchweight was off the table, so it was contested at middleweight. That certainly didn't help Rodriguez, who had to deal with Gastelum trying to drag him to the mat repeatedly over the course of the final ten minutes. Rodriguez is a very good boxer, but he's 37 years old, never throws any kicks and has zero grappling game to speak of. It's a skill set that typically doesn't age well, as we're seeing here. There's no guarantee the UFC will run Rodriguez back out there.
Fresh off a six-month suspension for a failed drug test, Rodriguez drops his third straight fight. Of course, he was the victim of some bad luck here. This fight was originally due to be contested at 170 pounds, but Gastelum announced late in the week he would be unable to cut down. Apparently even an 180-pound catchweight was off the table, so it was contested at middleweight. That certainly didn't help Rodriguez, who had to deal with Gastelum trying to drag him to the mat repeatedly over the course of the final ten minutes. Rodriguez is a very good boxer, but he's 37 years old, never throws any kicks and has zero grappling game to speak of. It's a skill set that typically doesn't age well, as we're seeing here. There's no guarantee the UFC will run Rodriguez back out there.
Bout shifted to middeweight
Rodriguez's scheduled matchup against Kelvin Gastelum on Saturday will now be contested at middleweight, Mike Heck of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
It was reported Thursday morning that Gastelum would be unable to make the 170-pound welterweight limit, and according to Rodriguez's camp, a catchweight fight of 180 pounds wasn't even on the table. Instead, Rodriguez agreed to contest the fight at middleweight in order to save the matchup. Despite what appears to have been a tough camp and weight cut for Gastelum, Rodriguez remains roughly a (+190) betting underdog as of Thursday afternoon.
It was reported Thursday morning that Gastelum would be unable to make the 170-pound welterweight limit, and according to Rodriguez's camp, a catchweight fight of 180 pounds wasn't even on the table. Instead, Rodriguez agreed to contest the fight at middleweight in order to save the matchup. Despite what appears to have been a tough camp and weight cut for Gastelum, Rodriguez remains roughly a (+190) betting underdog as of Thursday afternoon.
To return against Gastelum
Rodriguez will take on Kelvin Gastelum at the UFC even scheduled for June 22 in Saudi Arabia, UFC President Dana White announced Wednesday night.
ANALYSIS
Rodriguez has hit a bit of a rough patch, as he lost back-to-back fights before serving a six-month suspension due to a positive drug test. He'll be cleared by June, however, when he'll face a veteran fighter and big name in Gastelum on a high-profile card. On paper, Rodriguez is four inches taller and will enter with a three-inch reach advantage, in addition to a statistical advantage in striking volume. Those factors could loom large in a matchup that will likely be primarily a striking battle.
Rodriguez has hit a bit of a rough patch, as he lost back-to-back fights before serving a six-month suspension due to a positive drug test. He'll be cleared by June, however, when he'll face a veteran fighter and big name in Gastelum on a high-profile card. On paper, Rodriguez is four inches taller and will enter with a three-inch reach advantage, in addition to a statistical advantage in striking volume. Those factors could loom large in a matchup that will likely be primarily a striking battle.
Suspended six months
The Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended Rodriguez on Tuesday for six months due to a positive drug test, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The suspension is retroactive to August, when Rodriguez initially announced that he would withdraw from a Sept. 16 matchup with Santiago Ponzinibbio on account of the positive test. Rodriguez's suspension will lapse in late January.
The suspension is retroactive to August, when Rodriguez initially announced that he would withdraw from a Sept. 16 matchup with Santiago Ponzinibbio on account of the positive test. Rodriguez's suspension will lapse in late January.