Patricio Freire and Ja Rodriguez will meet on Saturday at the UFC 314 main card at the Caseya Center in Miami. Check out this quick breakdown of matchups from MMA Junkie Analyst Dantom.
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Patricio Freire vs. Yair Rodriguez UFC 314 Preview
Former Bellator Champion Freire (36-7 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes his UFC debut on the big stage of the UFC Pay-per-View main card. At 37, Freire may not have much tread left on his tires. He took part in the contest following TKO’s victory over Jeremy Kennedy in March last year. This victory snapped two skids. Under the Lizin Banner, a super short Notice substitution against Chihiro Suzuki and an unanimous decision loss against Sergiopetis in the challenge of the Bellator Bantamweight title. …Rodriguez (19-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) will join this fight in an attempt to shake off consecutive losses to Brian Ortega and Alexander Volkanovsky in the title unified match. Rodriguez won the interim featherweight title at UFC 284 by submitting Josh Emmett in February 2023.
Yair Rodriguez vs. Patricio Freire UFC 314 Expert Picks, Prediction
Filling in the paid portion of the card is a solid featherweight battle between Freire and Rodriguez.
As a longtime fan of “Pitbull,” I’m finally glad to see Freire compete for the world’s MMA leader. However, I can’t help but think that Freire might have been too late for the UFC at the age of 37.
Worse, UFC matchmakers have decided to go on the Joe Silva route when it comes to booking the difficult debut of Low Key, a combination of style challenges and comical height differences.
I don’t blame Rodriguez for choosing from a head kick knockout to a sketchy decision victory. That said, I have a hard time trusting Rodriguez’s Battle IQ.
From the election to closing his guards and closing his guards towards the fence to his repeated willingness to wrestling with Hart’s Brian Ortega, Freire’s supporters may not even have to bank on Brazil’s underrated wrestling abilities this weekend.
Add the fact that Freire’s counter game still looks unharmed. I take flyers to the underdogs to take advantage of Mexican mistakes.
The pick is that Freyle wins by unanimous decision.
Yair Rodriguez vs. Patricio Freire UFC 314 Odds
Odds makers and the public are supporting Mexican fighters who have listed the Rodriguez-196 and Freia +158 via Fundael.
Yair Rodriguez vs. Patricio Freire UFC 314 Start Time, How to Watch
Freire and Rodriguez are expected to walk to the cage around 11:20 PM EST. Fight is streaming ESPN+ Pay-Per-View.
For more information about the card, see the MMA Junkie Event Hub at UFC 314.
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