The lightweight clash between surging contenders Rafa Garcia and Rongzhu will be part of the Noche UFC card on Saturday inside Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Both are riding a three-fight win streak, but Rongzhu heads into the match as the slight betting favorite with -165 UFC odds, while Garcia will be the +135 betting underdog.
Noche UFC: Rafa Garcia vs. Rongzhu Fight Odds
- Rafa Garcia: +135
- Rongzhu: -165
Noche UFC: Rafa Garcia vs. Rongzhu: Tale of the Tape
| Rafa Garcia | Rongzhu | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 32 | 26 |
| Height | 5’7” | 5’9” |
| Reach | 70 inches | 71 inches |
| Leg Reach | 37 inches | 39 inches |
| Record | 19-4 | 28-6 |
| Fighting Style | Boxer | Striker |
| Finishing Rate | 53% | 85% |
Noche UFC: Rafa Garcia vs. Rongzhu: Prediction
I predict a decision win for Rongzhu over Garcia because he’s the better overall striker. Both are incredibly talented grapplers, but I think they are at par with each other in terms of this category. Rongzhu can confidently defend Garcia’s takedown and submission attempts.
It’s a different story on the feet, though, as Rongzhu will have the advantage with his length and rangy striking approach. He can throw different types of kicks on Garcia’s way while staying out of the pocket and staying out of Garcia’s comfortable distance.
Rongzhu’s best path to victory is to keep the fight standing and inflict damage using leg kicks and stabbing jabs. He also needs to move side to side and frustrate Garcia, while setting up counters when he lunges forward.
Rafa Garcia’s Recent Fight Results
Garcia was the former Combate Americas champion before the UFC signed him in 2021. In his last five fights, he won four (Clay Guida, Vinc Pichel, Jared Gordon, and Alexander Hernandez) and lost one (Grant Dawson).
Rongzhu’s Recent Fight Results
Rongzhu was cut by the promotion in 2022 but returned to the UFC via the Road to UFC tournament in 2024. Since then, he has competed in four bouts and won three. He defeated Kody Steele, Austin Hubbard, and Victor Martinez, while his only loss during this period came to Chris Padilla.
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