Rodriguez has long been viewed as one of the most skilled strikers in the division. With wins over the likes of former title challenger Yan Xiaonan, Mackenzie Dern, Amanda Ribas and Tecia Torres, her resume speaks for itself. In her last two outings, in which she suffered split decision losses to rising star Iasmin Lucindo and former champ Jéssica Andrade, her striking output wasn’t enough to offset her opponents’ control time in the grappling exchanges.
Saturday is a big test for Rodriguez, as she faces an elite grappler in Robertson, who’s finished nine of her 15 professional wins by submission, including seven in the UFC. If Rodriguez can keep the fight standing and showcase the striking that carried her to four…