UFC 221: Romero vs Rockhold Betting Odds and Predictions
The UFC heads to Australia for the first time this year once it sets up shop in Perth to get UFC 221. Though the card is far from the sexiest you will notice, there are still plenty of persuasive bouts to keep diehard fans intrigued.
The main event features Yoel Romero and Luke Rockhold facing away. This bout was for the interim middleweight crown but after Romero failed to make weight, the name is only going to be online for Rockhold. The rest of the card is stuffed with loads of hometown ability that will look to get the crowd in Perth excited for their first event .
Yoel Romero vs Luke Rockhold
Romero (+120) is an athletic freak. Regardless of being 40 years old,”The Soldier of God” has more speed, power and athleticism than fighters half his age. This is the foundation of Romero’s entire game. In the striking stage, the Cuban just floats and waits for his moment to burst into strikes. It works the exact same for his wrestling. Romero is an Olympic wrestler and depends upon that skill set more than any other but he still prefers to land takedowns with explosiveness rather than grinding it out.
However, Romero has a gas tank. He’s patient in the Octagon because he burns through his cardio extremely fast. You are able to see him visibly breathing heavily after a significant explosion of movement. That’s why his whole game is built around controlled proportions of energy leading to controlling his competitor.
Not to be outdone, Rockhold (-150) is much more athletically gifted than 95 percent of those fighters in the UFC. The former winner is fast and powerful but uses his normal size advantage better than most in the branch, whether that is working from range behind his left body and hook kick or dominating the leverage battle from the clinch. Offensively wrestling isn’t something Rockhold concentrates on — unless functioning out of the clinch — but he is just one of the craftier entry fighters in the branch.
There are not many holes in the game of Rockhold. The only minor flaw which sticks out is his tendency to rely on particular strikes on the toes. He could rely a lot on his left hook and body kick, telegraphing and giving up a chance to become countered.
Romero is very harmful as they come but his cardio is simply not there to compete with Rockhold. “The Soldier of God” can always land a KO shot — he has proven that — but Rockhold’s clinch work will wear Romero down.
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