Preview: UFC Fight Night 185 Prelims

"I NEED THAT CONTRACT, DANA!"

Drako Rodriguez didn't come to Vegas to mess around.

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— UFC (@ufc) September 9, 2020

Bantamweight

NR | Drako Rodriguez (7-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. NR | Aiemann Zahabi (7-2, 1-2 UFC)

ODDS: Rodriguez (-170), Zahabi (+150)

This is a difficult fight to call, if only because there are still a lot of questions about Rodriguez. “The Great Drakolini” definitely has some sharp submission skills, as evidenced by his win on Dana White’s Contender Series in September. Those alone should notch him a few wins inside the Octagon, but there also is not much evidence of what Rodriguez can do against better competition if he fails to secure a quick finish. That could come into play here, given that Zahabi has shown enough grappling talent to be able to survive early. The brother of Tristar Gym frontman Firas Zahabi, he has a well-rounded set of skills but also a surprisingly overaggressive mentality that can often lead him into losing brawls or dumping his gas tank. Rodriguez looks to be the better athlete, in general, and a quicker striker, so the call is for him to take over this fight late. The pick is Rodriguez via third-round stoppage.

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