Prediction: Patricio Pitbull via Decision
Pitbull’s style has always been a riddle for dynamic strikers. He doesn’t pressure recklessly or throw volume just to throw; instead, he stays right at the edge of range with a tight, high guard, using small steps and feints to bait reactions and make reads. His footwork is lightning-quick in short bursts, making him incredibly difficult to hit clean, and when he decides to engage, he slips shots with pinpoint timing and fires back with devastating power. That kind of threat makes opponents hesitant, especially ones who thrive on rhythm and creativity like Yair.
What makes Pitbull so effective is that he doesn’t give many openings. He doesn’t fall for the chaos that Yair often creates. Rodriguez lives off his opponent’s willingness to exchange and fall into his tempo—spinning kicks, wild angles, volume at awkward rhythms. But Pitbull doesn’t bite. He waits, makes reads, and when he finally counters, he does so with intent to end the exchange decisively. That alone limits Yair’s ability to build momentum on the feet.
But the real key to this fight isn’t just Pitbull’s striking defense and counters—it’s his grappling. Yair has shown time and time again that high-level grapplers who can neutralize his jiu-jitsu give him the most trouble. He’s slick off his back and flexible, but against strong top control and pressure passing, he fades. Pitbull is a legit black belt with serious jiu-jitsu credentials, but he rarely shows it because his striking usually gets the job done. If he chooses to bring that tool out here, it could be the difference-maker. Once he gets on top, Yair tends to burn energy quickly trying to scramble or attack off his back, and that’s where the drain starts to show. Pitbull’s positional control, ability to ride transitions, and mix in ground strikes could absolutely shut down Yair’s offense and sway the rounds clearly in his favor.
The only real concern is that Pitbull has been taking longer to get into gear in recent fights. That slow start could be costly against someone like Yair, who has a major speed advantage and the reach to touch him from the outside early. If Pitbull lets Yair get comfortable and start dictating the distance and tempo, the momentum can shift quickly, especially if Yair starts mixing in his kicks and creative attacks before Pitbull finds his rhythm.
But if Pitbull stays composed, works his way inside, makes reads early, and eventually brings the fight into the grappling realm, it’s hard to see Yair holding up over three rounds. The striking exchanges will be close, but the more disciplined and efficient fighter is Pitbull, and once the grappling comes into play, the gap widens. Over 15 minutes, Pitbull’s measured pressure, defensive sharpness, and high-level jiu-jitsu give him the right ingredients to shut down Yair’s offense and walk away with a decision win.