Kyler Phillips vs. Marcelo Rojo is one of the top fights on the preliminary card for UFC 271 betting on February 12.
With how much action these two bantamweights bring to the table, this clash could end up claiming Fight of the Night honors. Phillips is one of the biggest favorites on the card with UFC betting lines opening with him at -333 before shifting to -400.
Here are our best free Phillips vs. Rojo picks and predictions for UFC 271 on Saturday, February 12 from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Phillips vs Rojo fight odds
Live odds courtesy of the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Phillips vs Rojo method of victory odds
| Method of Victory | Kyler Phillips | Marcelo Rojo |
|---|---|---|
| To win by KO/TKO | +115 | +750 |
| To win by Points | +300 | +650 |
| To win by Submission | +550 | +1,800 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook as of February 10, 2022.
Phillips vs Rojo picks
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Phillips vs Rojo betting preview
Kyler "The Matrix" Phillips is coming off his first defeat in the octagon when he lost by majority decision to Raulian Paiva in July in a bout that earned a Fight of the Night bonus. That snapped a four-fight winning steak for Phillips, who is 3-1 in the UFC with decision victories over Song Yadong and Gabriel Silva as well as a TKO win over Cameron Else.
With a background as a wrestler and a brown belt in BJJ, the 26-year-old Phillips has a terrific ground game with high-level jiu-jitsu. But he's also a very crafty and explosive striker who throws punches and kicks with high volume.
Marcelo "El Pitbull" Rojo made his UFC debut last March when he was knocked out by Charles Jourdain in a featherweight bout. Rojo's crisp boxing, speed, and aggressiveness kept things close in the first two rounds. However, he was dropped to the mat by Jourdain and pounded on in the third frame, eventually getting finished after he got back to his feet.
Prior to that bout, he went 3-2 in his previous five fights in Combate Global. The 33-year-old is a good striker who attacks in a straight line and packs plenty of pop in his hands.
Phillips vs Rojo tale of the tape
| Kyler Phillips | Marcelo Rojo | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Age | 33 |
| 5-foot-8 | Height | 5-foot-8 |
| 135 lbs | Weight | 135 lbs |
| 72 inches | Reach | 71 inches |
| 9-2-0 (5 KOs) | Record | 16-8-0 (8 KOs) |
Phillips vs Rojo UFC prediction and best bet
Our prediction is compiled from the analysis of the fighters and is an indication of who we are leaning with to win this bout.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this fight or where the most value lies, and is where we would put some of our bankroll behind.
Prediction: Phillips (-400)
Rojo has great boxing in the pocket but can be a bit hittable at times and has been very exposed on the mat. While he held his own against Jourdain in the first two rounds, he could struggle against another fast starter in Phillips who won't let him control the pace.
Phillips is so diverse in his attack and he pretty much exhausted himself by throwing too much in the first round of his previous bout against Paiva. If he displays better fight IQ and implements his wrestling and grappling, he should have the tools to take this one. Consider betting Phillips on the moneyline as part of a parlay, but there is better value elsewhere.
Best bet: Phillips by decision (+300)
This line is very steep and there is a bit of value on a finisher like Rojo as a 3/1 underdog against a young guy coming off a loss. Then again, you can also get Phillips at +300 to win by decision and three of his four UFC fights have gone the distance.
Sure, Rojo has been finished in his last five defeats but four of those came via submission and Phillips has rarely attempted submissions inside the octagon. Rojo has the striking to keep things more competitive than this line suggests especially as he moves down in weight. And if Phillips does try to use his wrestling it will likely result in top control and time coming off the clock as opposed to a stoppage victory.
