The UFC returns to their trusty Apex Center in Las Vegas with a main event you don’t want to miss. Former UFC featherweight champion and fan favorite, Max Holloway, will welcome the return of Yair Rodriguez. Read on for our complete betting guide taking a first look at Holloway and Rodriguez, including updated UFC odds and our free expert UFC betting picks, predictions, and analysis.
Following two back-to-back UFC pay-per-view events, the company has returned to its regularly scheduled programming. But don’t be fooled by card status because next week’s UFC in Vegas 42 main event is worthy of any fight card.
Join us as we take a deeper dive into next weekend’s main event, where the long-awaited return of Yair Rodriguez will accompany the return of former featherweight champ Max Holloway.
Max Holloway vs. Yair Rodriguez
Saturday, November 13, 2021 – 04:00 PM EDT at UFC Apex Center
Max “Blessed” Holloway (22-6-0)
The number #1 ranked featherweight on the planet returns to our screens. In true Max Holloway style, he isn’t waiting around for his title opportunity – he’s accepting an MMA bout versus a fighter outside of the top ten to deliver for his fans.
Holloway is a UFC veteran, having competed for the promotion just shy of ten years. The Hawaiian native grew up fighting the world’s best fighters, and there aren’t many elite-level featherweights he hasn’t already fought.
Aged 29-years-old, we’re witnessing Holloway’s prime fighting years, and I must say, it’s an absolute pleasure. As the former UFC featherweight champion, he’s already reached the pinnacle, but he continues to break records and remains one of the greatest ever to do it.
Max Holloway MMA Accomplishments
⦁ UFC Featherweight Championship (One time, three defenses)
⦁ Interim UFC Featherweight Championship (One time)
⦁ UFC Performance of the Night (Four times)
⦁ UFC Fight of the Night (Four times)
⦁ The longest winning streak in UFC Featherweight history (14)
⦁ Most fights in UFC Featherweight division history (22)
⦁ Most wins in UFC Featherweight division 917)
⦁ Most stoppage victories in UFC Featherweight division history (10)
⦁ Most significant strikes landed in a fight in UFC history (445)
Max Holloway Best Available Odds: -600 at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Yair Rodriguez (13-2-0)
A two-year absence from MMA competition has left fans in turmoil because the Mexican-born highlight-reel striking skills of Yair Rodriguez deserve more cage time than most.
Unorthodox striking techniques and a flare inside the octagon created a new fan favorite in Yair Rodriguez. Since his arrival to the UFC in 2014, he’s fought a killer’s row of featherweight contenders to earn an abundance of respect.
Yair’s 8-1 UFC record will be put to the test next weekend, but the contest ahead will undoubtedly deliver one of the most exciting battles of the year.
Yair Rodriguez MMA Accomplishments
⦁ UFC Ultimate Fighter: Latin America tournament winner
⦁ UFC Fight of the Night (Four times)
⦁ UFC Performance of the Night (Three times)
⦁ Latest knockout in UFC history (4 minutes 59 seconds of Round 5)
Yair Rodriguez Best Available Odds: +450 at BetOnline
Holloway Fight Style and How Can Holloway Beat Rodriguez?
Max Holloway is known to be a slow starter, but his boxing fundamentals, high pressure, and output soon make up for any of the early rounds he often gives up.
I don’t think Holloway will find complications in figuring out the kicking attacks of Yair. Should he stick to his boxing fundamentals and avoid the kicking game, he’ll avoid the counter kicks that can undoubtedly end his night.
With that said, Holloway’s durability is legendary; when mixed with his cardiovascular, he’ll be the toughest test during Yair’s professional career.
Rodriguez Fight Style and How Can Rodriguez Beat Holloway?
Yair Rodriguez throws everything but the kitchen sink when his striking offense is let loose for those who may have forgotten. Calling him, a risk-taker would be an understatement; from a dangerous set of kicks and a versatile movement on the feet, Rodriguez will pose multiple threats to the relaxed style of Max Holloway.
Kicks are the key to Rodriguez’s success. He’s a master kicker who can overcome Holloway’s legendary striking by utilizing moves such as the sidekick, hook kicks, and spinning attacks that the former champion isn’t accustomed to.
Betting Picks and UFC in Vegas 42 Odds
The available odds at Bookmakers Review opened with Holloway as a heavy betting favorite at -600, and rightfully so.
However, Yair presents a knockout threat to the entire division, and I do believe that if a KO/TKO stoppage takes place during this fight, it’ll be the Mexican shocking the world by doing so. In saying that, I do anticipate this contest to go all five rounds.
Both fighters’ durability during their careers is impressive, a combined 41 fights have only seen one stoppage loss for Holloway and Yair, and neither of them was caused via strikes.
I predict that Max Holloway will have his hand raised after the judges witness an extreme level of strikes landed by the favorite.
UFC Pick: Over 3 ½ Rounds at -155 with BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
