Piera Rodriguez vs. Sam Hughes prediction, odds, pick for UFC Vegas 114

The UFC is back in motion from The Apex in Las Vegas as we’re back for an additional slate of fight predictions, kicking off within the Women’s Strawweight Division. Venezuela’s Piera Rodriguez will tackle Washington’s Sam Hughes of Fortis MMA to open the Prelims. Check our UFC odds series for the Rodriguez-Hughes prediction and pick.

Piera Rodriguez (11-2) has gone 4-2 contained in the UFC since 2022. After dropping back-to-back bouts, she’s responded with consecutive wins over Josefine Knutsson and Ketlen Souza seeking to mount a winning streak because the betting favorite here. Rodriguez stands 5-foot-3 with a 63.5-inch reach.

Sam Hughes (11-6) has gone 6-5 contained in the UFC since debuting in 2020. While she trades wins for losses early throughout her tenure, Hughes has mounted a three-fight winning streak of her own and will potentially break through the rankings together with her fourth-straight. Hughes stands 5-foot-5 with a 64.5-inch reach.

UFC Vegas 114 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings. 

UFC Vegas 114 Odds: Piera Rodriguez-Sam Hughes Odds

Piera Rodriguez: -155

Sam Hughes: +130

Over 2.5 rounds: -500

Under 2.5 rounds: +340

Why Piera Rodriguez Will Win

• Last Fight: (W) Ketlen Souza – S DEC
• Last 5: 3-2
• Finishes: 5 KO/TKO

Piera Rodriguez faced a troublesome opponent her last outing in Ketlen Souza and fought towards a detailed split decision despite being billed the -260 betting favorite at closing. She actually barely fell behind in the whole striking numbers, nevertheless it was her seven takedowns out of 10 attempts that got ultimately got her the nod on the judges’ scorecards. Her stock fell barely as the favourite on this fight facing an equally dominant wrestler as her opponent this time around.

Piera Rodriguez may be very aggressive together with her striking and prefers a scrappy, kickboxing bout on the feet. She couldn’t find her distance against Souza, which caused her to resort to the wrestling, but Rodriguez ought to be the more technical and expert striker during this particular matchup. Search for her to be defending more takedowns than attempting shots on this bout.

Ultimately, if Piera Rodriguez can discourage the wrestling and keep Sam Hughes in a boxing bout, she ought to be the higher fighter in relation to utilizing her mixtures and mixing within the kicking game as well. She’s rather more willing to take risks and throw her full striking arsenal at an opponent, so expect much of the identical as she forces the exchanges on this one.

Why Sam Hughes Will Win

• Last Fight: (W) Shauna Bannon – SUB (rear naked choke, R2)
• Last 5: 4-1
• Finishes: 2 KO/TKO, 4 SUB

Sam Hughes has been on a tear the last three fights, most recently cashing in because the betting favorite against hyped prospect Shaun Bannon with an exclamation point of a submission finish. She’s put the remaining of the division on notice together with her recent pefrormances, expecting to face top-15 competition if she will manage the underdog win here. A consistent grappler, she’ll be welcoming any wrestling exchanges from Rodriguez during this one.

Sam Hughes is incredibly balance together with her striking and doesn’t take too many probabilities in relation to leaving herself exposed or selling out for the knockout finish. Once she has her opponent hurt, it’s rather more likely that we see Hughes take dominant position on the bottom and exploit the gaps in her opponents’ game.

Sam Hughes will even have conditioning on her side as she’s been capable of push an uncomfortable pace for many of her opponents. During her last bout, she didn’t allow Bannon much of any room to work her striking, consistently pressuring and shutting the space to initiate the clinch. On the bottom, expect the much higher upside of submission to be in Hughes’ favor.

Final Piera Rodriguez-Sam Hughes Prediction & Pick

This ought to be a reasonably close matchup to open the UFC Vegas 114 Prelims as each women are coming into this fight with significant momentum behind them. Piera Rodriguez has managed back-to-back wins, but her last got here by split decision in a 50/50 fight. Sam Hughes has been rather more dominant during her wins, but comes into this fight the betting underdog.

I feel Piera Rodriguez is the a lot better striker and may look to maintain this fight on the feet. Nonetheless, Sam Hughes has been the higher MMA submission artist and although Rodriguez boats the higher striking numbers, Hughes may very well be seen as an even bigger threat on the feet.

Still, I expect much of this fight to be a stalemate with Piera Rodriguez landing the heavier, more damaging shots. She ought to be the one dishing the more significant damage and can earn the choice win if she will come out of this bout relatively unscathed.

Final Piera Rodriguez-Sam Hughes Prediction & Pick: Piera Rodriguez (-155); OVER 2.5 Rounds (-550)