Light Heavyweights
NR | Mike Rodriguez (10-4) vs. NR | Da Un Jung (12-2)ODDS: Rodriguez (-130), Jung (+110)
This should be an action-packed light heavyweight affair. Korea’s Jung is an interesting talent, even if he still feels like he is less than the sum of his parts. At his best, Jung can probe forward with strikes and slowly break down his opponent, but he is often too patient for his own good. That nearly came back to bite him in his UFC debut against Khadis Ibragimov, who managed to blitz and damage him early. Fortunately for Jung, Ibragimov’s limited gas tank allowed the Korean to come back and score a late submission win.
Jung will take on Boston’s Rodriguez, who was guaranteed a UFC contract as soon as he won his Dana White’s Contender Series fight with a first-round knockout via flying knee. That sums up most of the highlights of Rodriguez’s career to date. He is a dynamic striker who can score a quick finish, but cardio and takedown defense have proven to be a concern against better competition.
Given Jung’s patient approach, it is possible that Rodriguez can hit him with a knockout blow early, but if this goes any length of time, things should quickly shift in the Korean’s favor. The pick is Jung via third-round stoppage.
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