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UFC Vegas Preview: Holloway looking to seal Volkanovski trilogy with win over returning Rodriguez

2 years ago
| BY News Team

After delivering two mammoth cards in consecutive weekends with UFC 267 and 268, you’d think the UFC might have been looking forward to a well-earned weekend off, but there’s no sign of it. 

Instead, we are treated to a fascinating striking battle at the top of the featherweight division between Max Holloway and Yair Roriguez, with both men looking to seal a title fight against reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Elsewhere on the card, heavyweights Ben Rothwell and Marcos Rogerio De Lima are set for an explosive meeting, with former women’s featherweight title challenger Felicia Spencer also in action against Leah Letson, while Song Yadong takes on Julio Arce at bantamweight.

We look at all the latest UFC betting odds and preview the action below.

Max Holloway (#1) v Yair Rodriguez (#3) – Featherweight

This is Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway’s first UFC appearance since arguably his greatest career performance against Kalvin Kattar. In a flawless and at times breath-taking display of boxing, he would win a 50-43 decision on two of the cards and a practically unheard of 50-42 on the third card to seal his first win since being dethroned and then conquered again by current champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Such was the display from Holloway that he broke no fewer than eight individual UFC striking records in the process, including most significant strikes landed (445), biggest significant strike differential (312) and most total strikes attempted (746). On a big night for the UFC, Max reached a level of performance few have ever seen in the sport before.

As Max would say himself, he’s (arguably) the best boxer in the UFC. His output is off the charts, his movement is exemplary and he’s excellent at maintaining range and using it to his advantage. He’s simply capable of that which lesser fighters are not.

Yair Rodriguez is no lesser fighter though. Although we haven’t seen him in just over two years, his fighting style, finishes and willingness to go to war have endeared him to UFC fans the world over. He uses his, often wild and unpredictable, offence to engage clinch situations, such as he did to perfection in his last win against Jeremy Stephens.

His career highlight undoubtedly came in his win over Chan Sung Yung. The two had exchanged brutal blows during the course of the three rounds, before Yair would swing for the fences with less than ten seconds remaining. Yair would land a picture-perfect upwards elbow in the proceeding melee, knocking the ‘Korean Zombie’ out cold with just seconds on the clock. Even the commentators weren’t 100% sure what had happened, until replays revealed that Yair had scored one of the greatest knockouts in UFC history.

Yair’s gameplan will be important in this one. He has indicated thus far that he wants to test his striking game against the best in the division, which Max certainly is, but he won’t want to spend too long standing in-front of him. If he does, he could be in for as long a night as Kalvin Kattar was.

Holloway is currently 1/7 favourite to win the fight, 11/10 to do so via decision and 11/8 to do so via KO/TKO. Yair is currently the 9/2 underdog and is 9/1 to win via decision.

The rest of the card

The co-main event sees heavyweight veteran Ben Rothwell face off against Marcos Rogerio De Lima. Rothwell bounced back from a defeat to Marcin Tybura by submitting Chris Barnett in his last fight, whilst De Lima picked up a win against Maurice Green. Rothwell has three wins in his last five fights and is 4/6 to win this one. De Lima meanwhile has not won consecutive UFC fights since 2014 and is the 6/5 outsider to land this one.

Elsewhere on the card, Felicia Spencer will make her featherweight return against Leah Letson, who is making just her second UFC appearance. Spencer is two fights removed from an unsuccessful title challenge against Amanda Nunes and will be looking to bounce back after also losing her last bout against Norma Dumont. Letson meanwhile beat Julija Stoliarenko in her first UFC appearance and will be looking to put forth her own title credentials here. Spencer is 1/3 to pick up the win here, with Letson the 5/2 outsider.

The improving bantamweight division will take centre stage as Song Yadong faces Julio Acre earlier in the evening. Yadong is looking to put together a winning run, in order to improve his #13 ranking in the division following his win against Casey Kenny last time out. Arce meanwhile is looking to add a big name to his resume and stake his own claims in the division. Yadong is the current favourite at 8/11, with Arce the 11/10 underdog.

Check out all the latest UFC betting odds at William Hill

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