Final Preventing Championship (UFC) Bantamweight prospects Raul Rosas Jr. and Christian Rodriguez will throw down this weekend (Sat., April 8, 2023) at UFC 287 inside Miama-Dade Enviornment in Miami, Florida.
Rosas Jr. took the Octagon by storm final fall, successful his Contenders Collection debut, celebrating his 18th birthday, after which displaying out in his first official UFC battle in a three-month span. “El Nino Problema” has championship aspirations, however he’ll first must accept a powerful sophomore efficiency in his pay-per-view (PPV) launch. His opponent “Ceerod” is simply 25 years of age himself, a Roufusport product who enters his third UFC bout following a bonus-winning submission over Joshua Weems.
Let’s take a better have a look at the keys to victory for every man:
Raul Rosas Jr.
File: 7-0
Key Wins: Jay Perrin (UFC 282), Mando Gutierrez (Contenders Collection 2022)
Key Losses: None
Keys to Victory: Rosas Jr. fights filled with confidence, as one would count on of an undefeated teenager driving a serious wave of momentum. His greatest side is clearly his jiu-jitsu, which has additionally served him effectively on the aggressive grappling scene at a fairly excessive degree. Within the cage, his jiu-jitsu ability is complimented by aggressive chain wrestling.
Rosas Jr. isn’t ineffective on his ft, however he’s positively extra uncooked in that realm. Conversely, Rodriguez’s high-volume kickboxing packs a strong punch, and he places his combos collectively like a much more skilled Bantamweight. Clearly, the sport plan right here is to wrestle.
Thankfully for Rosas Jr., that’s exactly how Jonathan Pearce defeated Rodriguez (admittedly up a weight class). One among Rosas Jr.’s greatest attributes is his conditioning and talent to push a tempo, so combining continuous offense with frequent takedown makes an attempt reads like one of the best ways to forestall Rodriguez from getting going and permit Rosas Jr. to maintain the match in his realm of experience.
Christian Rodriguez
File: 8-1
Key Wins: Joshua Weems (UFC Vegas 63), Junior Cortez (Contenders Collection 2021)
Key Losses: Jonathan Pearce (UFC Vegas 48)
Keys to Victory: Rodriguez fights with the ability and composure of an older veteran. He’s obtained a wrestling background, however Rodriguez finds simply as a lot success together with his kickboxing, and he’s able to ending the battle on the ground and ft alike.
Rosas Jr. needs a grappling match, and sometimes, the antidote to that strategy is the basic sprawl-and-brawl recreation plan. On this case, nonetheless, Rodriguez has the wrestling and jiu-jitsu ability to actively counter Rosas Jr. Typically, when grapplings chain wrestle as aggressively as Rosas Jr., there are alternatives to attain reversals or threaten the neck.
A pair profitable counter moments like these will actually assist Rodriguez calm Rosas Jr.’s grappling assault. At that time, Rodriguez will be capable of extra successfully and confidently construct his get up assault. By punishing transition makes an attempt and unhealthy pictures, Rodriguez makes it way more probably that Rosas Jr. doesn’t simply hold insisting upon a wrestling match.
Backside Line
This can be a enjoyable battle between proficient younger Bantamweights.
Rosas Jr. is in place to grow to be a star. On the very least, his youth has him standing out from the extremely expert Bantamweight pack, and a second-straight victory to kick off his UFC profession in such a high-profile spot ought to actually assist construct his fanbase additional. The entire triple champ aspirations looks like a bit a lot, however there’s no motive followers received’t watch him attempt to obtain nice issues if he continues to win!
On the flip aspect, Rodriguez is just not a identified identify simply but. Thankfully, this is a chance to vary that! Common Bantamweights don’t discover themselves in PPV openers simply three fights into their UFC profession, so this can be a uncommon event. If Rodriguez can upset Rosas Jr., he stills a little bit of shine and fame, changing into a extra standout 135-pounder within the course of.
At UFC 287, Raul Rosas Jr. and Christian Rodriguez will open the principle card. Which man earns the victory?
