Kevin Lee vs. Daniel Rodriguez Odds, Preview and Prediction, (August 28): UFC

Kevin Lee vs. Daniel Rodriguez Odds, Preview and Prediction, (August 28): UFC

Credit: photo by Chris Unger/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
 
Odds
Time (Main Card) 10:00 p.m. EST
Kevin Lee money line -150
Daniel Rodriguez money line +125

 

Key stats
  Kevin Lee Daniel Rodriguez
Height 5'9 6'1
Weight 170 170
Reach 77' 74'
Record 18-6 15-2
Streak L1 W2
Last 5 2-3 4-1

 

Preview

We have ourselves an excellent fight in the Welterweight division, as former Lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee takes on the surging Daniel Rodriguez. Lee returns to action for the first time in 17 months. Lee’s last fight came against the now current Lightweight Champion Charles Oliviera, where ultimately he succumbed via submission. This will be Lee’s second trek up at Welterweight, the foray resulting in a submission loss to Rafael Dos Anjos. Meanwhile, Daniel Rodriguez has been on a roll. Since joining the UFC in 2020, Rodriguez has already notched five wins in six fights. Of those five wins, three have come via stoppage.

Prediction

This bout is a contender for ‘Fight of the Night’, as clashing styles here could lead to a back-and-forth barnburner. Lee is an excellent wrestler, who evolved his striking into being a strength. Physically strong, Lee often had no issues taking anyone down. Perhaps his biggest issues have been submission defense and cardio. The latter being due to a strenuous weight cut, one in which caused the move up to Welterweight. A division which has sharks like Daniel Rodriguez to worry about. A pure striker through and through, Rodriguez has used pressure and output to systematically outlass opponents. With excellent cardio and stout takedown defense, Rodriguez is a problem for anyone who dares stand with him.

As for a prediction, I’m going with Daniel Rodriguez. While I believe Kevin Lee is the better fighter, I am concerned that a combination of Rodriguez’s size and stout takedown defense prove to be the difference in where this fight takes place. For Lee, there’s no doubt that he would like to take Rodriguez down and neutralize the Californian’s striking. However, if Lee can’t take Rodriguez down, I don’t see him beating ‘D-Rod’ on the feet. Lee has never been one to land with volume or accuracy. Rodriguez on the other hand lands more than eight strikes a minute. Throw in his pressure and I see Lee having a tough night. So with that said, I have Rodriguez winning via decision.

PICK: Daniel Rodriguez (+125)

 

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