UFC Fight Night: Rodolfo Vieira vs Eric McConico Preview & Prediction
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A world-class grappler Rodolfo Vieira looks to bounce back from a brutal knockout loss against the tough out Eric McConico.
Rodolfo Vieira vs Eric McConico facts
What time are Rodolfo Vieira and Eric McConico expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs Zalal? Meta Apex, Enterprise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs Zalal? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 274
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs Zalal on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs Zalal? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs Zalal main card
Aljamain Sterling vs Youssef Zalal (Featherweight)
Norma Dumont vs Joselyne Edwards (Women’s Bantamweight)
Rafa Garcia vs Alexander Hernandez (Lightweight)
Davey Grant vs Juan Adrian Luna Martinetti (Bantamweight)
Montel Jackson vs Raoni Barcelos (Bantamweight)
Marcus Buchecha vs Ryan Spann (Heavyweight)
UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs Zalal prelims
Rodolfo Vieira vs Eric McConico (Middleweight)
Mayra Bueno Silva vs Michelle Montague (Women’s Bantamweight)
Jackson McVey vs Sedriques Dumas (Middleweight)
Jafel Filho vs Cody Durden (Flyweight)
Francis Marshall vs Lucas Brennan (Lightweight)
Max Griffin vs Victor Valenzuela (Welterweight)
Talita Alencar vs Julia Polastri (Women’s Strawweight)
Rodolfo Vieira: World class BJJ player looking to rebound
Rodolfo Vieira (11-4) is now 6-4 in the UFC and comes off the worst loss of his career, a third-round head kick KO against Bo Nickal at UFC 322. The 36-year-old Brazilian is one of the most decorated grapplers to ever enter the octagon, a four-time IBJJF World Champion and ADCC gold medallist, with nine of his eleven professional MMA wins coming by submission. Vieira’s game on the feet is straightforward, he pressures forward in orthodox behind calf kicks and 1-3 shot combinations. However, he doesn’t have much volume or head movement, his punches are slow, and he holds his elbows wide in his guard, leaving his body exposed. Everything about him is geared towards getting the fight to the mat.
Eric McConico: Middleweight looking to bounce back against an easier opponent
Eric McConico (10-4-1) is 1-2 in the UFC after finally arriving into the promotion early 2025 at an older age than most debutants. He was thrown straight to the wolves against Nursulton Ruziboev and was finished in the second round via TKO. The southpaw earned his first UFC win over Cody Brundage via split decision in August, but was then stopped by Baysangur Susurkaev via third-round TKO – another tough opponent. McConico has decent footwork, throws a solid calf kick from southpaw, and uses a straight down the pipe well. McConico is more defensively responsible than Vieira and has shown flashes of dangerous headkicks, though his striking can look off-balance at times playing into Vieira’s takedown game.
Rodolfo Vieira vs Eric McConico prediction
Stylistically, this matchup favours McConico more than the odds suggest. Vieira’s main path to victory is to get this fight to the floor, and McConico’s takedown defence has actually looked sharp against Susurkaev, who’s a much more explosive wrestler than Vieira, especially at this stage of his career.
On the feet, McConico has more tools to work with. The southpaw vs orthodox dynamic plays into McConico’s hands too with his straight that should land on Vieira who doesn’t have much head movement. McConico also throws in longer combinations, and extending exchanges has worked against Vieira well, where his 1-3 shot combinations has seen to lose the volume battle consistently.
The one thing McConico must avoid is initiating the wrestling himself, as that invites Vieira to an easier path to victory. If he keeps this at range, lets his hands go, and picks Vieira apart from range, the scorecards should be his. Both fighters have shown good cardio in previous outings so expect a consistent fight throughout. Neither fighter has shown to carry crazy power to put the other away, making this a three-round points fight that the southpaw has the tools to win.
Prediction: Eric McConico to win
