Ernesto Rodriguez VS Masayuki Kikuiri

Welterweights Ernesto Rodriguez and Masayuki Kikuiri delivered an intense, grueling, and evenly-matched contest that went the full 15 minutes. Kikuiri started strong, using his slick kickboxing to land effective body kicks and long straight punches from the outside. Rodriguez struggled initially to navigate Kikuiri's range but began to find success late in the first round by forcing the fight into the clinch. The second and third rounds were characterized by grueling battles along the fence. Rodriguez managed to secure critical takedowns, maintaining heavy top pressure and draining Kikuiri's gas tank. Kikuiri battled hard to get back to his feet and landed solid strikes when separated, making the rounds incredibly close to score. Ultimately, Rodriguez's persistent grappling, cage control, and superior cardio in the final frame earned him a razor-thin majority decision nod from the judges (28-28, 29-28, 29-28).

Welterweight prospects collide as Cuba's Ernesto 'Starboy' Rodriguez puts his impressive 10-1 record on the line against the heavy-handed, highly experienced Japanese veteran Masayuki Kikuiri.