UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Caceres main card predictions
The UFC heads to Salt Lake City this weekend for another exciting Fight Night and its debut in the state of Utah. The promotion brings with them a showcase bout between rising featherweights Yair Rodriguez and Alex Cacares as well as a slew of other great fights.
Let’s take a closer look at how the electrifying main card might play out.
Yair Rodriguez and Alex Caceres put their dynamic fighting styles on display in what is expected to be a high-flying, action-packed main event at UFC Fight Night in Salt Lake City.
Taekwondo black belt Rodriguez is known for throwing an array of kicks and punches that constantly keep his opponents on their toes. He continues to get better every time we see him in the Octagon.
Caceres has been a monster since moving to featherweight, putting on an absolute clinic against Cole Miller in his last fight. “Bruce Leeroy” has evolved into a very well-rounded fighter during his time under the UFC banner and we think his ground game helps him get it done on Saturday night.
Prediction: Caceres by decision
Dennis Bermudez was on the cusp of a featherweight title shot before two straight losses stopped a seven-fight win streak and set him back in pursuit of the title. Bermudez returned to form in a dominant victory over Tatsuya Kawajiri back in February.
Bermudez is very capable on his feet, as seen by his 4.4 strikes landed per minute, but the Team Alpha Male product does significant damage on the ground, where he’s landed 35 percent of his successful strikes.
Rony Jason, winner of season one of "The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil," is talented, but this should be another victory for Bermudez.
Prediction: Bermudez by decision
After winning five straight between 2013 and 2015, Thales Leites finds himself slipping back down the middleweight rankings after suffering consecutive losses to Michael Bisping and Gegard Mousasi.
He’ll have another tough matchup on Saturday when he faces middleweight veteran Chris Camozzi.
Camozzi has won three in a row and appears to be the superior fighter at this point in his career. He outlands Leites at a near 2-to-1 rate, is far more accurate and does a good job of keeping the fight standing by successfully defending 63 percent of the takedowns thrown his way. We envision Camozzi re-enters the top 15 with a win on Saturday.
Prediction: Camozzi by decision
Hard-hitting Argentine Santiago Ponzinibbio takes on well-rounded Ultimate Fighter alum Zak Cummings in a bout that has Fight of the Night written all over it.
Three of Ponzinibbio’s four UFC wins have come by way of first-round knockout and he averages at least one knock down every fight, so it’s clear he’s got real power in his hands. On the other hand, the Argentinean gets hit a lot, absorbing nearly five strikes per minute, which is double the UFC average.
This is a tough one, but if Ponzinibbio can avoid getting caught by Cummings deceptive power, he should be able to score any solid UFC win.
Prediction: Ponzinibbio by knockout
Trevor “Hot Sauce” Smith is trying to string together victories for the first time in his UFC career when he takes on UFC newcomer Joseph Gigliotti.
Gigliotti is just 22 but touts a perfect 7-0 record, all by way of either submission or knockout. He also has a devastating right hand that spell a short night for Smith.
Smith is a veteran, however, and we know for a fact the moment won’t be too big for him. He should definitely look to use his grappling to neutralize Gigliotti’s power and speed.
Prediction: Gigliotti by knockout
Maryna Moroz was originally slated to take on Justine Kish, but UFC newcomer Danielle Taylor stepped in to accept the fight on short notice after Kish dropped out with injury.
Moroz, ranked ninth in the strawweight division, has won two of three inside the Octagon and will be the much bigger fighter on fight night. She has a seven-inch reach and height advantage over Taylor, as well as a four-inch leg reach advantage.
But what Taylor lacks in size, she makes up for in power. She’s won three of her fights by knockout and standing at just 5-feet tall didn’t stop her from winning the King of the Cage strawweight title.
Moroz is a talented boxer, so she shouldn’t have a problem properly using her reach to keep Taylor on the outside. But if Taylor gets inside and lands unleashes one of her furious combinations, she could earn her first UFC win.
Prediction: Moroz by decision
