LAS VEGAS – Max Holloway and Yair Rodriguez had their first and only faceoff ahead of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 197 main event.
After successfully making weight for the matchup at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, which streams on ESPN+, Holloway (22-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC) and Rodriguez (12-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) engaged in a faceoff in which they were given the opportunity to size each other up for the first time.
As expected with two professionals like Holloway and Rodriguez, there were no antics and no getting physical during the staredown. The two did bring the intensity, though, and showed they are ready to clash in a likely title eliminator in the featherweight division.
Holloway, No. 3 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie featherweight rankings, is currently a massive betting favorite to get the job done, but No. 14-ranked Rodriguez has shown in the past that he can never be disqualified from the possibility of a highlight reel knockout.
Check out the Holloway vs. Rodriguez faceoff ahead of UFC Fight Night 197 above.
