Watch Yair Rodriguez vs. Jeremy Stephens full fight video highlights from the UFC on ESPN 6’s co-main event above, courtesy of the UFC.
UFC on ESPN 6: Reyes vs. Weidman took place Oct. 17 at the TD Garden in Boston, Mass. Yair Rodriguez (12-2, 1 no-contest) battled Jeremy Stephens (28-17, 1 no-contest) on the main card, which aired live on ESPN2. Catch more video highlights below.
Right out of the gate!#UFCBoston pic.twitter.com/LiVEoYwUAq
— UFC (@ufc) October 19, 2019
RELENTLESS GnP from @PanteraUFC #UFCBoston pic.twitter.com/oGUs2Ip0YS
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) October 19, 2019
Stephens flips the script and gets on offense!! #UFCBoston pic.twitter.com/2Cxbrx8CwZ
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) October 19, 2019
@LilHeathenMMA swinging to END IT in round 3! #UFCBoston pic.twitter.com/eO5QVfB6Qd
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) October 19, 2019
What a fight!!
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) October 19, 2019
Where does it land on your FOTY list?? #UFCBoston pic.twitter.com/jdQiskGfmm
For more on Rodriguez vs. Stephens, check out live blog from MMA Fighting’s Alexander K. Lee.
Round 1: Kevin MacDonald on-hand for this co-headliner. Rodriguez right out of the gate with a flying kick that Stephens narrowly avoids. Stephens in hot pursuit, he gets caught by a glancing spinning backfist. Rodriguez goes for an inside trip that is blocked and they’re wrestling against the fence. Stephens has got the whizzer and he blocks a takedown attempt, but takes an elbow as they separate. Calf kick stops Stephens from advancing. Rodriguez with kicks to the body now, Stephens having difficulty closing the distance. Rodriguez zinging punches to the head. Looping axe kick by Rodriguez just misses, he’s opened up the arsenal early. Hard body kick lands for Rodriguez. Jumping knee by Rodriguez hits Stephens in the body and “Lil Heathen” ties him up. Rodriguez ducks in and lands a right over the top. Right to the body by Stephens, but he’s not getting in without taking damage. Switch kick by Rodriguez catches Stephens on the chin, he responds with a straight jab. Stephens is off-balance and he’s put on his back by a counter jab. He quickly recovers. Rodriguez sticks his tongue out at Stephens as the round ends.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Rodriguez.
Round 2: Switch kick by Rodriguez is blocked. Undeterred, he successfully follows up with a leg kick, then a body kick. Another hard kick to the body hurts Stephens. Rodriguez lands a leg kick and Stephens goes down. Rodriguez following with punches on the ground, referee giving Stephens every chance to recover. Stephens looks for a single leg, but Rodriguez stays upright and he’s scoring with more punches. It doesn’t look like Stephens can even stand. Rodriguez is all over Stephens with hammer fists. He pursues a D’Arce choke, Stephens defending and Rodriguez lets it go. Stephens manages to get back to his feet with two minutes remaining in the round, he’s still chasing. Rodriguez goes for a spinning strike and Stephens avoids it while also getting a waist lock from behind. He drags Rodriguez down and ends up in Rodriguez’s full guard. Rodriguez preventing Stephens from posturing up, he’s looking for a triangle choke. Rodriguez working to stand against the fence, he’s eating a lot of short punches though. Stephens threatening to steal the round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Rodriguez. Overall, 20-18 Rodriguez.
Round 3: Low blow early in round three and MacDonald calls for a break, but Stephens wants to continue immediately. He’s dragging Rodriguez into a brawl and they’re slinging heavy leather, nothing landing clean in the pocket yet. Rodriguez looking a lot more defensive-minded in this round. Stephens catches a kick and gets a takedown. He’s throwing punches from behind as Rodriguez gets up. They reset in the center of the Octagon, three minutes remaining. Another big takedown for Stephens, Rodriguez again defending with a triangle attempt. Rodriguez’s ground game limiting Stephens’s offense. Stephens in half guard now. He’s had the clear advantage in this round, landing plenty of strikes from the top. They’re all smiles and embrace after the buzzer.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Stephens. Overall, 29-28 Rodriguez.
Official result: Yair Rodriguez def. Jeremy Stephens via unanimous decision 29-28 x3