Yair Rodriguez is favored against Brian Ortega at UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 on Saturday, February 24 in Mexico City, Mexico. This event is one of 13 fights on ESPN+. Rodriguez is 19-4 in his career, including 10-3 in the UFC, while Ortega is 15-3 in his career, including 7-3 in the UFC. There are a total of 13 fights, all on ESPN+ at UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2. Let’s look at the bout between Rodriguez and Ortega and UFC predictions.
UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 takes place at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico on Saturday, February 24 with 13 fights, all on ESPN+.
UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval II Betting
Yair Rodriguez (19-4, 10-3 UFC)
Rodriguez came into the UFC with a record of 9-1 and he has 10 wins and three losses in the UFC. In his last six fights, he has four wins and two losses. He defeated Jung Chan-sung by KO, Jeremy Stephens by unanimous decision, Brian Ortega by TKO, and Josh Emmett by triangle choke submission; while losing to Max Holloway by unanimous decision and Alexander Volkanovski by TKO. Rodriguez has been a pro since 2011 and he has eight wins by TKO/KO and five by submission. He has six first round finishes.
Rodriguez said this to mmajunkie.usatoday.com about his upcoming fight against Ortega, “Not really, I don’t see why people keep thinking his shoulder just fell off for no reason. It’s OK. Everybody can think whatever they want about what happened there. If Brian wants to accept it or not, that’s not my problem. This is a completely different fight in a whole different environment and it will be great. Mexico is going to be a super tough fight, so it’s going to be interesting. I haven’t even thought about if he’s fully healthy or not. That’s not my problem. My only problem is preparing myself for the best version of Brian Ortega, and that’s what’s on my mind – just being ready myself and presenting the best version of myself so we can give the people what they want … a war.”
Brian Ortega (15-3, 7-3 UFC)
Ortega came into the UFC with a record of 8-0 and he has seven wins and three losses in the UFC. He defeated Thiago Tavares by TKO, Diego Brandão by triangle choke submission, Clay Guida by KO, Renato Moicano by guillotine chokes submission, Cub Swanson by guillotine chokes submission, Frankie Edgar by KO, and Jung Chan-sung by unanimous decision; while losing to Max Holloway by TKO, Alexander Volkanovski by unanimous decision, and Yair Rodriguez by TKO. Ortega has been a pro since 2010 and he has three wins by TKO/KO and seven by submission. He has four first round finishes.
Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Rodriguez 4.63 /Ortega 4.19
Striking Accuracy: Rodriguez 46% /Ortega 38%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Rodriguez 4.07/Ortega 6.66
Defense: Rodriguez 51% /Ortega 49%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Rodriguez 0.73/Ortega 0.95
Takedown Accuracy: Rodriguez 28%/Ortega 23%
Takedowns defended: Rodriguez 59%/Ortega 56%
Submission average: Rodriguez 0.7/Ortega 1.2
UFC Picks
It was almost two years ago when Rodriguez and Ortega met and it was Rodriguez winning in the first round after Ortega suffered a shoulder injury. Rodriguez won the interim featherweight title against Josh Emmett in February of last year but then lost to Alexander Volkanovski for the title. Ortega has not fought at all since his loss to Rodriguez so we have no idea what to expect for this fight. He is just 1-3 in his last four fights but the losses were to Rodriguez, Volkanovski and Max Holloway.
Rodriguez is listed as a slight favorite in UFC betting odds. I lean toward Rodriguez but since we have no real idea what to expect from Ortega coming off a long layoff, I am a bit leery. I think the rounds are the better choice. This is a special five-round co-main event and I think we’ll see this fight go back and forth. The rounds are listed at 2.5 and I think taking the over is the best bet in this fight.
| DATE | FIGHTERS | MONEY LINE |
| 02/24 | Brandon Royval | +228 |
| Brandon Moreno | -300 |
| 02/24 | Yair Rodriguez | -155 |
| Brian Ortega | +124 |
| 02/24 | Francisco Prado | +214 |
| Daniel Zellhuber | -280 |
| 02/24 | Ricky Turcios | +186 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | -240 |
| 02/24 | Sam Hughes | +379 |
| Yazmin Jauregui | -550 |
| 02/24 | Chris Duncan | +135 |
| Manuel Torres | -170 |
| 02/24 | Mateus Mendonca | -165 |
| Jesus Aguilar | +131 |
| 02/24 | Christian Quinonez | +158 |
| Raoni Barcelos | -200 |
| 02/24 | Daniel da Silva | +283 |
| Edgar Chairez | -385 |
| 02/24 | Claudio Puelles | +176 |
| Fares Ziam | -225 |
| 02/24 | Luis Rodriguez | -133 |
| Denys Bondar | +103 |
| 02/24 | Victor Altamirano | +228 |
| Felipe dos Santos | -300 |
| 02/24 | Erik Silva | +301 |
| Muhammad Naimov | -415 |
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