One Hell of A Show at UFC Fight Night 92 in Salt Lake City

Alex Caceres is always an entertaining fighter to watch. His intro shtick complete with Kung Fu bows tell everyone that he’s showing up to have fun and that he doesn’t take himself too seriously: it’s all part of Caceres’ personality and showmanship. Conversely, Yair Rodriguez upon his introduction was more stoic to the point of being underwhelming: nonchalantly sipping a bottle of water. This was in no way foreshadowing for the rest of the fight at UFC Fight Night 92 in Salt Lake City, Utah where Rodriguez drove the majority of the offensive action. In retrospect, Caceres provided an honest critique of his performance in a post-fight interview you can see here. 

“I’m Gonna Need Some Dramamine”
-UFC Announcer

Rodriguez in the first and second round was ridiculously active. Yair was throwing so many spinning attacks it looked like he cross trained at Cique Du Soleil. Rodriguez was effectively driving the timing of the action and would not allow Caceres to fight on his own terms or at his own pace. In the first and second rounds it was hard for Caceres to land any effective counters to the furious flurry of attacks that Yair was throwing at full bore towards Alex. My favorite move: when Rodriguez caught Caceres with a backhand that was cleaner than when Nate Diaz Stockton Slapped Connor Mcgregor.

“Get in the Center of That Hurricane”
-Caceres’s Corner

Hurricane wasn’t a misnomer: there were a ridiculous number of spinning attacks from Rodriguez, but by the third round it was apparent that Yair’s mandalic onslaught was beginning to slow much to the benefit of Caceres. Finally, Caceres got a lucky break when from the clinch the two went to the ground and scrambled. Rodriguez flipped and attempted a leg lock; Caceres secured the dominant position in the guard of Rodriguez and laid down some ground and pound. You could see when this first happened that from his back Yair was trying to set up a triangle choke and then arm bar, but Caceres slipped it and really landed some shots, which must have been satisfying considering how the first 2 rounds went.

One Hell Of A Show

Rounds 4 and 5 Rodriguez was finally slowing his pace down and Caceres seemed land more shots against his opponent, Caceres found better timing and  he simply wasn’t getting backed up by Rodriguez’s leg kicks. Instead of fighting on his heels, Alex had the confidence to get in there and stick Yair with some thudding right jabs. That the fight was a split decision is a testament to the amazing sportsmanship that the two fighter’s displayed, and they showed great respect, holding eachother’s arms up in mutual victory as the final bell rung, proving that they had gone the distance at UFC Fight Night 92.

Great Fight!

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A.P. Harvey

Caceres Rodriguez Fight Night 92

Caceres Rodriguez Fight Night 92

Caceres Rodriguez Fight Night 92

Caceres Rodriguez Fight Night 92