UFC Fight Night 159 Odds: Rodriguez vs. Stephens & Full Main Card

• A pivotal featherweight scrap headlines UFC Fight Night 159 in Mexico City
• Can Rodriguez win in front of his home country?
• See the odds for the entire main card

The Octagon touches down in Mexico City, Mexico, on Saturday, September 21, for UFC Fight Night 159. In the main event, Yair Rodriguez takes on Jeremy Stephens in an interesting featherweight bout.

The co-main event sees a strawweight scrap between Carla Esparza vs. Alexa Grasso. The main card airs live at 8:00 pm EST on ESPN+.

Yair Rodriguez vs. Jeremy Stephens Odds

*All odds taken 09/18/19

Can Stephens Get First Win Since February 2018?

Rodriguez (11-2) got back into the win column in a big way last time out as he knocked out Chan Sung Jung with one second left in the fifth and final round. Before that, he lost in a beatdown to Frankie Edgar, in a fight that was just too soon for the highly-touted prospect. In the UFC the 26-year-old is 7-1 with notable wins over the likes of B.J. Penn, Dan Hooker, and Andre Fili.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4GzewLLVBo

Stephens (28-16) is just 33-year-old but has been in the UFC since 2007. It has been a long career, where he has fought and beat some of the top names in the sport. Currently, he is on a two-fight losing streak after losing by TKO to Jose Aldo then by decision to Zabit Magomedsharipov. He holds wins over the likes of Doo Ho Choi, Rafael dos Anjos, and Renan Barao.

Tale of the Tape

Both fighters have similar strengths which should make this fight very interesting. The two are primarily strikers, where Rodriguez is more technical and has flashy moves while Stephens has true one-punch knockout power. In Stephens’ win over Josh Emmett, he brutally knocked him out, which is something Rodriguez will need to try and avoid.

In his last fight, the Mexican took a ton of damage but still showed he has power late in the fight as he knocked out Korean Zombie. Ultimately, with it being five rounds and Rodriguez just going five rounds, I favor his cardio, as well given he is used to the high elevation of Mexico City. I think Yair Rodriguez gets his hand raised by decision or a TKO late in the fight.

Pick: Yair Rodriguez (-108)

Carla Esparza vs. Alexa Grasso Odds

Who Will Be Able to Extend Winning Streak?

Esparza (14-6) is the first-ever UFC strawweight champion after she submitted Rose Namajunas back in 2014. She then lost the belt in her next fight to Joanna Jedrzejczyk, and has since been up and down in her career. She is coming off of a very impressive win over Virna Jandiroba back in April. Before that, she was dominated against Tatiana Suarez and lost to Claudia Gadelha. She does, however, hold wins over the likes of Nina Ansaroff, Cynthia Calvillo and Felice Herrig.

Grasso (11-2) like Esparza is coming off of a big win as she beat Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC 238. Before that, she too was dominated by Tatiana Suarez as she was outwrestled. The Mexican holds notable wins over the likes of Randa Markos, Jodie Esquibel, and Mizuki Inoue.

Tale of the Tape

In MMA styles make fights and this is a really interesting clash of styles. Esparza is known for her wrestling and ground game while Grasso will want to keep it on the feet and use her striking. We have seen Esparza get pieced up on the feet, but we have also seen Grasso get taken down and controlled.

It is a super close fight but I think the Mexican in Grasso will get it done as she will be able to move her feet, avoid the takedowns and win the striking battle. Right now, she is just a better fighter than Esparza and that will show on Saturday.

Pick: Alexa Grasso (-125)

UFC Fight Night 159 Main Card Odds

Here are the odds for the remaining fights on the card.

Brandon Moreno vs. Askar Askarov Odds

Irene Aldana vs. Vanessa Melo Odds

Steven Peterson vs. Martin Bravo Odds