Daniel Rodriguez got off to a slow start against Alex Morono tonight at UFC Fight Night 244, but turned things around as the fight went on to emerge with a split decision victory.
Round One:
Calf kick for Morono. Right hand for him and now a jab from Rodriguez as he takes the center of the Octagon. Morono swinging hard but comes off the guard. Inside leg kick for him.
Straight right for Morono. He lands it again. Another inside leg kick. Rodriguez tries to land but Morono is seeking to counter each time he does so.
Rodriguez does get through with a body punch. Morono lands as he comes forward. inside leg kick for Rodriguez.
High kick attempt from Morono. Now one from Rodriguez that also comes off the shoulder. Glancing overhand from Morono.
Right hand from Rodriguez but then a spinning backfist from Morono. Push kick from Rodriguez. Morono ducks and hurls a right hand that lands.
Straight right from Morono and a big body kick in response from Rodriguez. Calf kick for Morono. Leg kick for Rodriguez and Morono counters with a right hand.
Right hand for Rodriguez and a body shot this time in response from Morono. Head kick attempt for Morono. Body punch for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez catches a kick and lands a solid punch. Low kick for Morono. Now a hard right that lands clean. He attempts a spinning back-fist as the round ends.
Round Two:
Calf kick for D-Rod. Morono steps into a right hand. Nice right hand from Rodriguez in close.
Hook from Morono whiffs over Rodriguez head. Body punch from Rodriguez. He lands it again. Now an inside leg kick from him. Superman punch attempt from Morono.
Inside leg kick and a punch from D-Rod. Push kick from Morono. Brief exchange at close range. Body kick from Rodriguez lands solidly.
Back to the jab to the body from Rodriguez. Hook to the body from Morono. Now an overhand right for him. Body punch from Morono this time.
Left hand from Rodriguez. Body kick for him but doesn’t land as cleanly as some of the others. Winging right hand for Morono.
A few hooks from Morono in close. Right hand lands. Now a inside leg kick. Jab for ROdriguez. He lands the lead hand again.
A couple of body punches from Rodriguez. Spinning backfist from Morono is blocked. Rodriguez works to the body. Punch gets through late in the round from Morono and misses on a backfist. Rodriguez presses forward with straight punches just before the horn.
Round Three:
Body punch from Rodriguez. Right hand gets through for Morono. Another body shot for D-Rod. Inside leg kick followed up by the body punch this time. And again he lands to the body. Now a couple of punches upstairs.
One-two for Rodriguez and then left hand seemed to hurt Morono. He gets his bearings back quickly though and presses forward with punches.
Right hand from Morono. Front kick to the body from Rodriguez. Morono catches a kick and shoves Rodriguez backwards.
Morono lands and then Rodriguez presses forward with his own punches. Body punch for Rodriguez. Big hook just misses from Morono.
left hands from Rodriguez. He kicks to the body. Right hand from Morono. Hard left hand for Rodriguez. Rodriguez ducks under a spinning back-fist attempt and then counters with punches.
D-Rod into the clinch now. 90 seconds to go as he lands a couple of knees to the body. Knees exchanged. D-Rod rips to the body then backs up.
D-Rod punches to the body as Morono lands to the head. Another punch for Morono. Grazing right hook from Rodriguez.
Left hand for Rodriguez as Morono misses. Rodriguez circling. Morono misses a knee and Rodriguez clinches up and then dumps Morono to the mat. Morono gets straight back up as the fight comes to a close.
Decision:
Good first round for Morono then, but Rodriguez did well to tighten up his striking in the rounds that followed to get the better of the stand-up exchanges and emerge with a split decision victory (29-28 x2, 28-29).
