MMA Preview – Rodrigo Vargas vs Zhu Rong at UFC 261
RODRIGO VARGAS VS ZHU RONG FACTS
When is UFC 261? Sunday 25th April, 2021 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 261? VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 261? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 261
What channel is UFC 261 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 261? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
RODRIGO VARGAS VS ZHU RONG LOWDOWN
Rodrigo Vargas (11-4) needs to be way more active as he has only fought once a year since 2017 suffering mixed fortunes. He folded Mike de la Torre with a head kick in 2018 for Combate Americas but then lost his UFC debut a year later to Alex da Silva who earned a unanimous decision. He then took on Brok Weaver last year and was cruising but landed an illegal knee to get disqualified.
Zhu Rong (16-3) now makes his debut and has built up a lot of steam. One of the Chinese graduates from the Wu Lin Feng (WLF), making their UFC debut on the card, Rong is one of the most promising talents coming out of China right now. He is only 21 and on a phenomenal 10-fight win streak including six knockouts and three submissions. His last 14 fights have all been for WLF and he has only lost once getting caught in Guilherme Cadena’s triangle back in 2018. He has fought three times a year since and last fought in January knocking out Deliya Bi.
RODRIGO VARGAS VS ZHU RONG PREDICTION
This could be fireworks. Vargas is a ferocious southpaw and we can expect him to open up with his lead right hand and create openings to land his left high and calf kick.
Rong will also look to wreak havoc on the feet and he does not need to connect very often possessing some serious knockout power. The striking battle will be gripping but if Rong starts to land, expect Vargas to shoot in for a takedown.
Rong has good takedown defence and will attack with submissions if he does get taken down but he needs to keep this on the feet.
This could go either way but Rong’s activity swings this in his favour and he is still improving rapidly at his age. If he can avoid the calf kicks to his lead right leg from Vargas and defend the majority of the takedowns, we back him to get the job done. A knockout is likely considering his power, but Vargas has a good chin and will be in the fight for three rounds.
Prediction: Rong via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Value Bet: Vargas via Submission
