Marina Rodriguez left Jessica Aguilar bloody and battered after 15 minutes at UFC Philadelphia.
Marina Rodriguez was originally set to face Alexa Grasso at UFC Philadelphia, but Aguilar has replaced Grasso. Rodriguez won by first-round knockout on Dana White’s Tuesday Contender Series last year to improve her record to 10-0, earning her a UFC contract. In her promotional debut, she fought to a draw with Randa Markos, which took place last September.
Jessica Aguilar was one of the premier strawweights in the world prior to her time in the UFC. She owned a 19-4 record and defended her WSOF title twice with her last defense coming against current UFC fighter Kalindra Faria. She also holds notable victories over Megumi Fujii and Carla Esparza. She is 1-3 in the Octagon, falling to top-10 fighters Weili Zhang and Claudia Gadelha.
Eye poke right off the bat as Rodriguez gets her thumb in Aguilar’s eye. The Mexican veteran pressures as action resumes but pays the price getting clipped rushing in with blood pouring out her nose. Still, she manages to take it to the mat and goes for a submission attempt while being slammed on her head multiple times, persevering through to transition to an armbar. Aguilar is able to survive showing off incredible flexibility. The referee is forced to break them up as they were in a stalemate. Another eye poke from Rodriguez and she immediately gets a point taken away. Both fighters throw right hands but Rodriguez lands harder and drops Aguilar as the round ends.
Cageside Press Scored the First Round 9-9
Rodriguez picked up where she left off in the second with a beautiful teep to right-hand combo. Her length really started to show as the lanky fighter is able to counter every time her opponent comes inside. From the Thai clinch, Aguilar eats multiple knees and now Rodriguez smells blood and comes after her throwing the kitchen sink mixing in punches elbows teeps and knees to the body. Aguilar shows off her toughness, surviving the round.
Cageside Press Scored the Second Round 10-8 Rodriguez
Aguilar attempts to find a home for the overhand right in the third while eating huge shots. Using the Thai clinch multiple times, Rodriguez does damage while keeping her opponent at distance with teep kicks to the body. She’s able to comfortably coast to a decision win, applying constant pressure until the final bell.
Cageside Press Scored the Third Round 10-9 Rodriguez (29-26 Rodriguez)
Marina Rodriguez def. Jessica Aguilar by Unanimous Decision (29-26, 29-27 x2)
