Ronaldo Rodriguez needed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat to get the job carried out at UFC 306.
Opening the primary card at Sphere, Rodriguez’s dream of successful almost changed into a nightmare after Ode Osbourne dropped him with a punch after which locked on a triangle choke because the struggle appeared all however over. One way or the other, Rodriguez survived after which got here storming again to inflict a ton of harm of his personal within the second spherical earlier than a late reversal and a few floor and pound within the third helped him earn the win.
Nothing got here simple throughout a wild back-and-forth warfare however Rodriguez obtained the nod with the judges scoring the struggle 29-28, 29-27 and 29-27 for the 25-year-old fighter from Mexico.
“I’m a boy that got here from the streets of Veracruz,” Rodriguez shouted afterwards. “I’m right here residing my dream. I’m doing it right here.”
It was a celebration ultimately however Rodriguez virtually had an early evening after Osbourne blasted him with a punch within the opening spherical that dropped “Lazy Boy” to the canvas. Osbourne adopted him to the bottom the place he began unloading photographs till a scramble ended up with him locking on a nasty triangle choke.
With Rodriguez nonetheless dazed and confused, Osbourne appeared to have the submission secured. One way or the other, Rodriguez survived and broke free earlier than he tried to show the tables with some floor and pound from the highest place.
Regardless of being caught on the underside, Osbourne was nonetheless unloading some enormous elbows, slicing away at Rodriguez and making an attempt to do most injury.
The momentum modified dramatically going into the second spherical after a failed guillotine choke try from Osbourne backfired with Rodriguez escaping and reversing place. As soon as Rodriguez took benefit on the bottom, he hooked his legs for a physique triangle whereas taking Osbourne’s again as he started unloading a barrage of elbows.
Referee Chris Tognoni warned Osbourne that he needed to transfer or the struggle would possibly get stopped. So Osbourne reacted and almost reversed Rodriguez in a wild scramble because the flyweights stored battling for place.
With 5 minutes remaining, Osbourne was nonetheless capable of present some quickness on the ft however he was clearly operating on fumes. Rodriguez got here again at him with enormous energy behind each shot as he stored on the lookout for the knockout.
A late takedown try got here up quick for Osbourne with Rodriguez ending up on high throwing punches to assist him win a intently contested third spherical.
With an opportunity to shine as a part of the pay-per-view broadcast, Rodriguez introduced his finest and ended up together with his second win within the UFC and a memorable efficiency for the ages whereas transferring to 17-2 general in his profession.
