Prediction: Andre Fili via Decision
The first thing that jumps out is the speed. Fili’s always had that snappy jab, clean movement, and the ability to switch stances mid-combo without losing balance. That’s gonna be huge here because Rodriguez has to pressure into range to make anything happen—and nothing about his entries are unpredictable. No feints, no rhythm breaks—just solid, straight-ahead basics. It works, but early on, that speed gap is going to be hard to ignore. Fili’s gonna be able to tag him and circle out before Rodriguez even resets.
Now, Fili doesn’t always keep a high striking pace. That’s never really been his thing. So even though he might be winning the early optics, Rodriguez is the kind of guy who builds as the fight goes on, and he’ll keep trying to grind. But that’s why this isn’t just a striking matchup. Fili’s wrestling is sneaky good—he times his shots well, and when he commits, he’s all the way in. And when he gets those early takedowns, it’s not just for points. He’s got a smothering top game. No space, no scramble, just control. That’s how he’ll manage the tempo.
Rodriguez doesn’t really offer explosive getups. He plays patient defense and waits for mistakes—but Fili’s not gonna give him many. Especially not in the beginning. With that early speed advantage, the size, and the grappling control to slow everything down, Fili’s got all the tools to make this a gritty, clock-burning, momentum-killing kind of fight. And with Rodriguez needing time to build into the fight, there’s a real path here for Fili to bank two rounds and cruise.
This is one of those underdog spots where you’ve gotta recognize the vet IQ, the size difference, and the stylistic tools lining up. If Fili shows up sharp and mixes in the wrestling when under pressure, he walks out with a decision and cashes that +205.