UFC Fight Night – Ortega vs. Rodriguez –

16 July، 2022

34 1 minute read

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ELMONT, N.Y. — A marquee featherweight matchup between Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez is set to headline UFC Fight Night inside UBS Arena on Saturday. The main card airs on ABC (2 p.m. ET) and will be simulcast on ESPN+, with prelims on ESPN/ESPN+ at 11 a.m.

Ortega (15-2) is making his first appearance since he came up short in a title bid against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 266 last September. Rodriguez (13-3) is also coming off a defeat, a five-round decision loss to Max Holloway that, because of his performance, actually raised his stock.

The winner could very well challenge Volkanovskl for the 145-pound belt next. It will likely come down to Ortega, Rodriguez or Josh Emmett, who picked up a victory over Calvin Kattar last month.

In addition to the main event, Michelle Waterson-Gomez (18-9) will look to upset a dangerous new contender in Amanda Lemos (11-2-1), and former bantamweight champion Miesha Tate (19-8) makes her flyweight debut against Lauren Murphy (15-5).

Follow along as Brett Okamoto and Marc Raimondi recap the action from cageside, or watch the card on ESPN+.

Strawweight: Emily Ducote (12-6, 1-0 UFC) def. Jessica Penne (14-7, 3-4 UFC) by unanimous decision

The 28-year-old Ducote looked impressive in her UFC debut, out-pointing Penne on the judges’ scorecards 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28.

Ducote went to work on Penne’s lead leg early with kicks, and kept it up throughout the fight. Penne could barely put weight on it by the third round, which robbed her of mobility and power. She fought through it but clearly lost the last round and was even staggered at one point by a right hand. She was unsuccessful on all eight of her takedown attempts, according to UFC Stats.

Penne, 39, sees a two-fight win streak snapped. It was her first winning streak in the UFC. Ducote has now won three in a row, two of those coming in Invicta FC. — Okamoto