Yair Rodriguez knows his two-year absence has likely caused some MMA fans to forget about the world-class skills that made him a top contender in the featherweight division. He plans to remind everyone in impressive fashion when he takes on top-ranked former champion Max Holloway in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodriguez on Saturday. Their battle tops the main UFC fight card (4 p.m. ET) from the Apex facility in Las Vegas. The third-ranked Rodriguez hasn’t fought in two years because of injuries and a six-month suspension, but he has just one career UFC loss and believes an upset Saturday will restore his status among the sport’s elite. The winner could be in line for the division’s next title shot.

Holloway is a -600 favorite (risk $600 to win $100), while Rodriguez is priced at +450 in the latest Holloway vs. Rodriguez odds at Caesars Sportsbook. In the co-main event, Ben Rothwell (-150) takes on Marcos Rogerio de Lima (+130) in a battle of veteran heavyweights. Before making any UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodriguez picks of your own, make sure you check out the MMA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine analyst Andrew Gombas

Gombas is a former NCAA wrestler who taps into his experience on the mat to dissect the X’s and O’s of MMA matchups in a manner that sets him apart from other MMA analysts. He started the MMA handicapping service MMA Knockout Bets in 2018 and has shown a profit every year since.

With more than 1,200 selections tracked by the third-party monitoring service Bet MMA, he has shown a 10 percent return on investment for his followers. In 2020, $100 bettors who tailed his picks were up $9,200. L week at UFC 268, Gombas accurately called a dominant performance for Bobby Green (-170) against Al Iaquinta (+150) in a battle of veteran lightweights. Green scored a first-round stoppage to give his followers an easy winner. Anyone who has followed Gombas already has seen massive returns.

Now, with UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodriguez in sight, Gombas has studied the UFC Fight Night card from top to bottom and released his top selections. A successful parlay of those picks would pay better than 10-1. See them here.

UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodriguez preview

Holloway (22-6) remains one of the most popular fighters on the UFC roster because of his nonstop attacking style inside the cage and gregarious personality away from it. Even though he is still just 29, the Hawaiian is on the doorstep of his 10th anniversary with the UFC. His career with the promotion began with a submission loss to Dustin Poirier in February 2012, but he has since emerged as one of the dominant fighters of this generation.

Following a loss to Conor McGregor in August 2013 while both were still prospects, Holloway reeled off 13 consecutive UFC victories and became a champion in the process. He defeated Anthony Pettis for the title at UFC 206 in December 2016 and his defense included back-to-back wins over former titleholder Jose Aldo.

His stock has hardly dimmed despite the pair of losses to Volkanovski in large part because both were competitive matches. Many observers felt Holloway deserved to win the rematch, but the champion was awarded a disputed split decision. Trilogy fights rarely happen when one combatant has won the first two, but Holloway’s plight appears to be a potential exception.

Rodriguez (13-2-1) is known for his vast array of weapons that include karate, kickboxing and submissions. The 29-year-old Mexican fighter won his first six UFC appearances before suffering a loss to former champion Frankie Edgar.

He has two wins and one no-contest since, and his last outing resulted in a lopsided decision over rugged veteran Jeremy Stephens in October 2019. You can only see who to back here.

UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodriguez predictions

We’ll share one of Gombas’ UFC Fight Night selections here: He is backing Miguel Baeza (-140) to get his hand raised against Khaos Williams (+120) in a battle of welterweight prospects.

Baeza (10-1) has exhibited a lethal mix of powerful striking and world-class grappling while going 3-1 in four UFC appearances after making his debut in October 2019. However, the 29-year-old Florida native tasted defeat for the first time in his last outing. He dropped a unanimous decision to rugged veteran Santiago Ponzinibbio, who is now ranked No. 13.

Baeza looks to get back on track against the power-punching Williams (12-2), who boasts two first-round knockouts among his three UFC wins. The 27-year-old Michigan native similarly has just one defeat in the UFC and is hoping to build off a decision victory against Matthew Semelsberger in June.

“I like Baeza in this matchup. I expect him to land lots of leg kicks and push kicks to the body, setting up the late knockout,” Gombas told SportsLine. 

How to make UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodriguez picks

Gombas also has strong picks for Holloway vs. Rodriguez and other fights on the UFC Fight Night card. He’s also backing one fighter who’s superior in striking and cardio to deliver an upset. Those UFC Fight Night picks are only available at SportsLine.

Who wins Holloway vs. Rodriguez? And which UFC picks do you need to make for a 10-1 parlay? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed top picks on UFC Fight Night, all from the insider who’s up nearly $9,200 on MMA picks in the past year, and find out.

UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodriguez odds

Max Holloway (-600) vs. Yair Rodriguez (+450)
Ben Rothwell (-150) vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima (+130)
Felicia Spencer (-300) vs. Leah Letson (+250)
Song Yadong (-140) vs. Julio Arce (+120)
Thiago Moises (-250) vs. Joel Alvarez (+210)
Cynthia Calvillo (-120) vs. Andrea Lee (+100)
Miguel Baeza (-140) vs. Khaos Williams (+120)
Kyle Daukaus (-220) vs. Roman Dolidze (+190)
Sean Woodson (-290) vs. Collin Anglin (+245)
Cortney Casey (-220) vs. Liana Jojua (+190)
Marc Diakiese (-180) vs. Rafael Alves (+160)
Da Un Jung (-120) vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (+100)