Light heavyweights Devin Clark (8-2, 3 KOs, 1 SUB) and Mike Rodriguez (9-2, 7 KOs, 2 SUBs) will collide at UFC 223 on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The card airs live on pay-per-view starting 10 p.m. ET, following the FS1 prelims. Get the latest UFC odds and get previews, predictions and betting picks at BookMaker.eu now.
The light heavyweight division really could use some new faces in the rankings, and the matchup between Devin Clark and Mike Rodriguez at UFC 223 could give the fans somebody to watch. Both guys are relatively unknown, but are being given a key spot on the FS1 prelims of a major pay-per-view card. The hope here is that somebody steps up and delivers something to get excited about.
Rodriguez is making his UFC debut after impressing on Dana White’s Contenders Series. With a first-round flying knee KO over Janelle Jones, “Slow” earned a shot in the UFC. Prior to that sensational finish, Rodriguez was riding a three-fight winning streak of first-round KOs under the CES MMA banner. Knocking dudes out is the best way to get attention from the big brass.
Can his regional success translate in the big show? And is it something you should be betting on? Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break it down. Make sure to check in next week to get the closing odds for this scrap.
UFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
Devin Clark -125
Mike Rodriguez -105
Over/under coming soon!
Coming Into the Scrap
Clark is 2-2 in the UFC, with two wins sandwiched around stoppage losses. In his UFC debut, he was KO’d with a single punch by Alex Nicholson. “The Brown Bear” then earned UDs over Josh Stansbury and Jake Collier before getting submitted by Jan Blachowicz in his most recent outing. Blachowicz is a top-15 fighter, so Clark can’t be judged too harshly for that. Still, if Clark wants to carve out a regular fighting schedule, he needs to put together some impressive wins.
Mike Rodriguez has 100% finishing ratio, with seven KOs and two SUBs in nine career finishes. He’s big for the division and trains at Lauzon MMA, which is a well-respected fight camp. Though he’s untested in the UFC, his knockout power is still undeniable. Including the win over Jones, Rodriguez has four straight wins in a row by knockout. It won’t be as easy to get those finishes in the UFC, but you still gotta respect the hands.
Striking Stats
Strikes Landed Per Minute: Clark 3.35 / Rodriguez 3.11
Accuracy: Clark 53.14% / Rodriguez 36%
Absorbed Per Minute: Clark 2.86 / Rodriguez 1.78
Defense: Clark 42.25% / Rodriguez 20%
Grappling Stats
Takedown Average: Clark 2.09 / Rodriguez 0
Takedown Accuracy: Clark 37.5% / 0
Takedowns Defended: Clark 80% / 100%
Submission Average: Clark 0.35 / 0
UFC Odds Pick: Clark to win at -125
Rodriguez needs this to be a kickboxing match for the best chance to win. Unfortunately, Clark is a fighter who bases everything off of his wrestling. While The Brown Bear is three inches shorter than Rodriguez, he’s a fantastic athlete and naturally very strong. He does tend to make mental mistakes that could give a knockout artist like Rodriguez a puncher’s chance, but if Clark stays focused his takedowns and top control gives him a major edge.
UFC Odds Pick: Fight goes to decision
We’re doubling down on Clark’s wrestling skill here. If the fight goes his way, there will be plenty of time spent on the mat advancing positions, laying down GNP and blocking escape attempts. If Rodriguez were a better submission artist, we’d like the fight doesn’t go to decision prop, but as it stands we’re expecting this to go to the cards.
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UFC 223 takes place on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The card airs live on pay-per-view starting 10 p.m. ET, following the FS1 prelims.
