Marina Rodriguez has faced some of the UFC strawweight division’s best grapplers, so it’s an area of her game she’s constantly been working on. Rodriguez (12-0-2 MMA, 2-0-2 UFC) meets Carla Esparza on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 14, which takes place at Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi and airs on ESPN. The undefeated Brazilian has been served no softballs since joining the UFC in September 2018, having fought the likes of Randa Markos, Tecia Torres and Cynthia Calvillo. Rodriguez, who was originally scheduled to face Claudia Gadelha in May before COVID-19 canceled the event, instead will take on former champion Esparza (16-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC), who is tied for the most takedowns landed in divisional history, something that’s helped her put together a three-fight winning streak. Rodriguez already was preparing for Gadelha’s strong wrestling, so she’s confident in her readiness for this stylistic matchup despite the opponent change. “Carla Esparza is very experienced,” Rodriguez told MMA Junkie
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Marina Rodriguez confident she’ll end Carla Esparza’s winning streak at UFC on ESPN 14 – MMA Junkie