Jessica Andrade vs. Marina Rodriguez
Round 1 – Slow start for both ladies, but Rodriguez gets things going and lands a nice right. Andrade so far is throwing leg kicks mosttly. Ohh, Rodriguez with the first nice combo. If Rodriguez stays at distance, watch out. And just as I type that, Rodriguez throw a front kick that gets caught, and she falls to the ground with Andrade on top. She’s in side control and throwing punches, then gets caught in guard and pops out. We’ve reached a stalemate of sorts, but Andrade finds her way back in and is now in half guard. She throws a few hammer fists and moves into side control now. Looks like she’s going for an arm triangle, but Rodriguez clasps her hands in defense. Now Rodriguez with a D’Arce, but no real danger since she’s on bottom, and Andrade breaks out quickly. We finish with Andrade on top, and she was active with the position, so that slip-up costs Rodriguez. Round goes to Andrade 10-9.
Round 2 – Rodriguez establishing range early, landing from distance with that clear height and reach advantage. Andrade’s answer is leg kicks. It’s tough for her to land punches. Rodriguez is not having to much trouble two minutes in. She’s landing shots, and it shows in the color red around Andrade’s nose. Rodriguez continues to look comfortable with her punches. It’s been all hands, no kicks with 90 seconds left. Andrade is now bleeding from her nose. The outside work from Rodriguez is so nice. But watch out now, a Andrade stunned her with a right hand, and now she’s boxing dirty. Rodriguez is wobbly with 15 seconds left. Oh boy, that got interesting in the final minute of a round that was vastly dominated by Rodriguez. Don’t think it was quite enough to steal the round. 10-9 Rodriguez.
Round 3 – Big spinning backfist from Rodriguez to start this round. A nice right hand to follow up. And now a nice left hook. Rodriguez with a nice combination now. Good start to the round for her. … Well, not now as Rodriguez gets a little sloppy and gets shucked to the ground. But she’s back up quickly with 2:30 left. Immediately a big right hand from Rodriguez, but Andrade ate it well. Oh Rodriguez has a standing choke in now, which was created by Andrade closing distance. Interesting moment there, but they separate and continue standing and trading. Uh oh, a leg kick makes Rodriguez fall to the mat. But she’s back up in the final seconds, and they throw to end the round, nothing doing. That was definitely a Rodriguez round 10-9. I’ve got her winning a narrow 29-28 decision.
Result: Jessica Andrade def. Marina Rodriguez via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Recap: UFC 300 results: Jessica Andrade edges out Marina Rodriguez in striking battle
Photos:
Records: Andrade (26-12 MMA, 17-10 UFC), Rodriguez (17-4-2 MMA, 7-4-2 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Judging: UFC 300: Official scorecards from Las Vegas
