MMA Preview – Kyler Phillips vs Marcelo Rojo at UFC 271
KYLER PHILLIPS VS MARCELO ROJO FACTS
When is UFC 271? Sunday 13rd February, 2021 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 271? Toyota Center, Houston, Texas (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 271? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 271
What channel is UFC 271 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 271? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
KYLER PHILLIPS VS MARCELO ROJO LOWDOWN
Last year, Kyler Phillips (9-2) experienced his most impressive win and most disappointing loss. He kicked off his UFC career by earning a unanimous decision over Gabriel Silva (2020) and knocking out Cameron Else (2020) to shoot to 9-1. He then met Song Yadong and beat him via unanimous decision handing him his first loss in 10 fights and stealing his bantamweight prospect status. However, he was then assigned Raulain Paiva as the favourite and had almost put the Brazilian away in the first round but ended up losing a majority decision.
Marcelo Rojo (16-7) made a name for himself on the Combate Americas scene as he was never involved in a boring fight. He got submitted a couple times (Levy Marroquin, 2017 and John Castaneda, 2019) but he knocked out five victims and submitted one himself. He stepped in as a replacement to fight Charles Jourdain at UFC Fight Night 187 in March last year, but the debut did not go his way getting knocked out in the third round.
KYLER PHILLIPS VS MARCELO ROJO PREDICTION
Phillips’ loss should provide a valuable lesson. He was getting the better of Paiva everywhere and was offloading flashy strikes at will, but he did not pace himself and got sloppy. He has all the skills and now should be more calculated which make him the heavy favourite for us.
Rojo is extremely dangerous and cut from a similar cloth so this could easily be the ‘fight of the night’. We expect fireworks on the feet and exciting scrambles on the mat. If Phillips does not respect the power of Rojo or empties the tank too early, he will suffer another humbling defeat.
However, Phillips is better everywhere and we expect him to put on one of his most clinical performances. Expect flair, aggression and spinning attacks, but a slightly more patient and ruthless Phillips to pick up his sixth knockout.
Prediction: Phillips via KO/TKO
Value Bet: Rojo to win
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