'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#4. Miles Johns - UFC bantamweight
Whenever anyone produces a highlight reel knockout as brutal as Miles Johns did at UFC Vegas 12, they have to be one to watch the next time they're in action.
On the undercard of Anderson Silva's final fight in the UFC, Johns faced Kevin Natividad. Midway through the final round, Natividad was rendered unconscious by a swift and vicious right hand. Not many victims of a KO have crumpled and fallen as awkwardly as he did. The win last October was Johns 10th in MMA and a fast rebound following his first defeat in the sport at the hands of Mario Bautista earlier in 2020.
Having previously been on a nine-fight winning streak heading into last year, 'Chapo' will look to build a new streak with a win against veteran campaigner Anderson dos Santos this weekend. If he can produce another finish like in his last fight, he'll certainly establish his name in the 135-pound division.
#3. Daniel Rodriguez - UFC welterweight
Daniel Rodriguez is a dangerous welterweight. Last time out at UFC Vegas 23, he broke Mike Perry’s nose with one of the first jabs he landed. If we were given money every time Perry broke his nose, we’d be millionaires, so that might not be saying much. But Rodriguez does have the striking and the power to damage anyone.
Against a dangerous opponent, he was dominant. ‘D-Rod’ brought slick striking and impressive power to the cage, as he often does. For 15 minutes, the 34-year-old battered and bloodied ‘Platinum’ Perry.
With the win, Rodriguez moved to 4-1 in the UFC. The one defeat on his record was a loss to Nicholas Dalby by way of what was a controversial decision. If Rodriguez had been given the nod on the scorecards, as many thought he should have, he’d be unbeaten in the UFC and on an 11-fight winning streak.
At UFC Vegas 31 this weekend, Rodriguez was scheduled for an intriguing matchup against Abubakar Nurmagomedov. Unfortunately, the Russian withdrew from the event less than two weeks prior to the card.
The search for a new opponent led the UFC to octagon-newcomer Preston Parsons. The debutant is on a four-fight winning streak and will be looking to spring a short notice upset against the in-form 'D-Rod'. But with 11 finishes in his 14 victories and an impressive and entertaining stint in the UFC so far, Rodriguez is certainly one of the top names to look out for this Saturday.
