Salt Lake City was treated to a special featherweight showcase for the UFC Fight Night 92 main event.
Rising star Yair Rodriguez (8-1) defeated Alex Caceres (12-9, 1 NC) by split decision (46-49, 48-47, 48-47), but fight fans will be walking away impressed with both men. The action-packed fight, at elevation, was a never-ending treat of a striking arsenal few only dream about having.
I can't remember the last time I had that much fun watching a fight.
— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) August 7, 2016
Yair Rodriguez is a phenomenonal talent and he's just scratching the surface of his true potential. Going to be fun to watch his progression
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) August 7, 2016
The fight began with a feeling out process, but it was one of the most creative feeling out processes you’ll ever see.
Rodriguez found more success as Caceres continually gave him space to create. Rodriguez showed why he’s such an exciting fighter with continual spinning attacks. The second round was similar and did not have any less coming from both men.
Caceres did much better in the third frame.
Rodriguez kept his high pace, but Caceres was able to be more effective with his strikes. When Cacers would close the distance, he would connect cleanly. His best moment, perhaps in the entire fight, came with a 1-2 combination that landed to get inside before following up with a knee to Rodriguez’s body. Late in the round, Caceres put Rodriguez on his back and scored with quality ground-and-pound.
Yair Rodriguez is a phenomenonal talent and he's just scratching the surface of his true potential. Going to be fun to watch his progression
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) August 7, 2016
Got Yair Rodriguez winning 49-46. Fightmetric counted 431 attempted strikes. 101 in the final round. At altitude.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) August 7, 2016
FightMetric showing 677 combined strikes thrown. #UFCSLC
— Rob Tatum (@RobTatumMMA) August 7, 2016
The final two rounds echoed the first two.
Caceres certainly got in some offense of his own, but he was allowing Rodriguez to have too much space to generate his style of offense. Rodriguez also scored repeatedly with a sidekick to the lead leg of Caceres. “Bruce Leeroy” was being far too defensive. His output dropped as he backed away, circled away or covered up from Rodriguez’s attacks.
Rodriguez and Caceres threw down in the final minute of the fight, but Rodriguez was able to land a bit more than his counterpart.
Aside from their astonishing pace and cardio, the most shocking development may have been the 49-46 scorecard for Caceres.
Gotta be a clerical error. No way a human could give Caceres four rounds. No way.
— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) August 7, 2016
49-46? They had their sudoku all wrong.
— Heidi Fang (@HeidiFang) August 7, 2016
49-96 Bruce Leroy ? Must've picked dare in truth or dare! #UFCSLC
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) August 7, 2016
Both men’s stock rose with the incredible fight, but it also highlighted the fact that neither are at the top of the division just yet. Rodriguez is still a developing prospect, and his inefficiency could cause trouble in the deep waters of 145 pounds.
Caceres made tactical errors that lessened his ability to win the fight.
He will take a small step back after the loss, but Caceres will have learned a lot from this experience. He got to go five rounds with one of the most physically gifted fighters in the division, and he was close to pulling off the upset.
Rodriguez: "I'm gonna let Sean Shelby pick my next opponent...I think [Caceres] was a good opponent." I don't enjoy that. More call-outs!
— Bleacher Report MMA (@BR_MMA) August 7, 2016
Somebody will be able to exploit Rodriguez's inefficiency, comes-and-goes defense, and spotty footwork, but he's a tall order. #UFCSLC
— Patrick Wyman (@Patrick_Wyman) August 7, 2016
Yair Rodriguez vs. The Korean Zombie would be the wildest.
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) August 7, 2016
As for Rodriguez, a win moves him forward. How far forward? Only the UFC matchmakers can answer that question. He, too, will grow from this fight and have a better understanding of pacing himself in a five-round main event.
The UFC Fight Night 92 main event delivered spectacular action, and both men will have earned a swath of new fans. That’s a positive for them and the UFC as it continues to search for more stars. There is a bright and insanely creative future in the UFC’s featherweight division.
