LAS VEGAS — Fresh off back-to-back numbered events the past two weeks, the UFC will roll right into a massive featherweight main event on Saturday inside the Apex.
Former 145-pound champion Max Holloway (22-6) will take on Yair Rodriguez (13-2) at UFC Fight Night. For Holloway, 2021 will mark the first calendar year since 2015 in which he did not compete in a UFC title fight. But a win tonight would almost certainly set that up for him in 2022. As for Mexico’s Rodriguez, Holloway represents the biggest test of his career, and an opportunity to live up to the potential he has shown since 2014, when he won The Ultimate Fighter Latin America series.
In addition to the high-profile main event, UFC Fight Night features welterweight prospect Miguel Baeza, who is looking to rebound from the first loss of his career against a fellow striker in Khaos Williams. A bantamweight matchup between Song Yadong and Julio Arce also stands out as the main-card opener.
Follow along as Brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi and Jeff Wagenheim recap the action after each fight or watch UFC Fight Night on ESPN+.
Contents
Fight in progress:
Men’s featherweight: Max Holloway (22-6, 18-6 UFC; -625) vs. Yair Rodriguez (14-2 NC, 8-1 NC UFC; +450)
Heavyweight: Marcos Rogerio de Lima (19-8-1, 8-5 UFC) def. Ben Rothwell (39-14, 9-8 UFC) by first-round TKO
It took de Lima all of 32 seconds to finish off Rothwell, courtesy of a sharp right hand and powerful left hook. De Lima hurt Rothwell early with a right hand down the middle. After Rothwell backed up to the fence, De Lima dropped him with a left hook.
Rothwell was clearly hurt, but instinctually held on to de Lima and looked for a takedown. Referee Herb Dean stepped in immediately after the left hook, but then appeared to briefly change his mind and allowed the fight to continue for a few more moments. De Lima essentially stopped fighting after Dean’s initial move, however, and Dean ultimately called it off.
Rothwell protested the stoppage, but to no avail. De Lima picked…
Source : espn
