UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman  18 Jul 2026 · Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, US

Felipe Franco defeats Levi Rodrigues Jr. by KO/TKO

Loss Levi Rodrigues Jr. 5-1-0
Win Felipe Franco 11-2-0
KO/TKO · punches

Round 2 · 1:40

Rodrigues Jr. vs Franco — Light Heavyweight · UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman

Predictions summary

What happened

The result, the defining moments, and what the verdict means.

Franco absorbed Rodrigues's opening pressure before finding his range on the feet.

Striking entries set up takedowns and sustained positional control in round one.

A right hand backed Rodrigues up in the second; Franco clinched, took mount, and finished with ground-and-pound at 1:40.

Pre-fight analysis — how we saw it going in

Case for Rodrigues Jr.

Rodrigues is unbeaten and has never heard the final bell — five wins, all knockouts, all inside the distance. He is the fresher finisher, and against a Franco who has been stopped before, one clean early exchange is usually all his power needs.

Case for Franco

Franco is the more experienced finisher (10-2, every win inside the distance) with the grappling to change levels — six knockouts and four submissions mean he can end it standing or on the mat. He has also seen tougher rooms, and the Freddy Vidal tape cuts both ways: Vidal submitted Franco but only managed a no-contest against Rodrigues.

What We Were Watching For

  • Two 100% finishers: this rarely reaches the scorecards — who lands the first clean shot?
  • Shared Vidal thread: Franco was submitted by Freddy Vidal; Rodrigues fought him to a no-contest — whose result reads better?
  • Franco's debut jitters: he was out-pointed by Mario Pinto in his UFC bow — has he settled, or is the Octagon jump still raw?
  • Rodrigues' untested chin: 5-0 but never in deep water — what happens if Franco survives the first wave?
Records & career stats
Rodrigues Jr. vs Franco
Rodrigues Jr. Franco
  1. OutputSig. strikes landed / min 3.74 2.55
  2. Striking def.Striking defense 29% 44%
  3. DurabilitySig. strikes absorbed / min 7.27 2.39
  4. Takedown def.Takedown defense 57% 88%
  5. FinishingFinish rate 100% 100%
5-0-0
Record
10-2-0
3-1-1 last 5
Recent formRecent formWin–loss record over the fighter’s last five bouts, newest first, as carried in their UFC/FightMetric career stats.
Not published
Brazil
Nationality
Brazil
29
Age
25
1.83 m
Height — Franco leads
185.42 cm
194 cm
Reach — Franco leads
196 cm
Orthodox
StanceStanceWhich side a fighter leads from — a striking term, not a religious one. Orthodox: right-handed, left foot and hand forward (the common default). Southpaw: the mirror image, right side forward (usually a left-hander). Switch: changes between the two during a fight.
Not published
100%
Finish rateFinish %Finish rateThe share of a fighter’s wins that ended inside the distance — by KO/TKO or submission — rather than going to the judges’ scorecards. Higher means more finishes.
100%
5
Wins by KO/TKOKO wins — Franco leads
7
0
Wins by submissionSub wins — Franco leads
4
3.74
Sig. strikes landed / minStr / min — Rodrigues Jr. leadsSignificant strikes landed per minuteAverage number of significant strikes a fighter lands for every minute of fight time — a read on striking output and pace. From UFC/FightMetric career stats.
2.55
7.27
Sig. strikes absorbed / minAbs / min — Franco leadsSignificant strikes absorbed per minuteAverage number of significant strikes a fighter takes for every minute of fight time. Lower is better — it means they get hit less often. From UFC/FightMetric career stats.
2.39
29%
Striking defenseStrike def. — Franco leadsStriking defenseThe percentage of opponents’ significant strikes that do not land — strikes slipped, blocked or evaded. Higher is better. Not the same as striking accuracy, which counts your own strikes that land. From UFC/FightMetric.
44%
57%
Takedown defenseTD def. — Franco leadsTakedown defenseThe percentage of opponents’ takedown attempts that are stuffed. Higher means harder to put on the mat. From UFC/FightMetric.
88%
04:49
Avg. fight timeAvg. timeAverage fight timeThe mean length of the fighter’s bouts (minutes:seconds) — a rough read on whether they tend to finish early or go the distance. From UFC/FightMetric.
12:09

Career stats per UFC.com; recent form is each fighter's last five bouts. Record is as of fight night; career stats, recent form and win totals are the latest on file and may include this fight. Bars compare each stat on a fixed scale; the “Edge” marker flags the leading corner where the gap is meaningful. The snapshot plots five career rates — output, striking defense, durability (strikes absorbed, inverted), takedown defense and finish rate — each normalised on its own scale.

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Who Called It?

How the analysts' picks held up once the cage door closed.

JakeGerberMMA
Hear it — 12:39

Current pick evidence

Picked: Levi Rodrigues Jr.

Fight result: Felipe Franco · KO/TKO

Takes Rodrigues' power and pressure over Franco's inconsistent, hesitant form.

“Rodriguez by first round knockout. out. If he didn't get an early KO, I could”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 65.4% 83 44
  • Method Accuracy 60.4% 29 19
  • Round Accuracy 44.4% 4 5
  • Underdog Accuracy 30.0% 3 7
View full track record (127 calls)
DFS By The Numbers
Hear it — 12:10

Current pick evidence

Picked: Levi Rodrigues Jr.

Fight result: Felipe Franco · KO/TKO

Takes Rodrigues based on the more convincing striking, power and cardio from the regional tape.

“going to take Rodriguez to win this fight, and I'm going to take him to win”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 64.4% 94 52
  • Method Accuracy 58.5% 48 34
  • Round Accuracy 35.9% 14 25
  • Underdog Accuracy 35.0% 7 13
View full track record (146 calls)
Half The Battle
Hear it — 35:21

Current pick evidence

Picked: Levi Rodrigues Jr. · KO/TKO

Fight result: Felipe Franco · KO/TKO

Picks Rodrigues to knock out Franco, while noting the unanswered questions if the matchup stays on the mat.

“caution in a match-up like this. But I'll pick Levi to come out here and”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 56.1% 55 43
  • Method Accuracy 71.4% 10 4
  • Round Accuracy 50.0% 1 1
  • Underdog Accuracy 26.1% 6 17
View full track record (98 calls)
AJ Devito
Hear it — 20:15

Current pick evidence

Picked: Felipe Franco

Fight result: Felipe Franco · KO/TKO

Takes underdog Franco, favoring his grappling and the prospect of taking Rodrigues down and controlling the fight.

“fight. So, Felipe Franco as an underdog is going to be my pick and I'm kind of”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 69.6% 165 72
  • Method Accuracy 58.4% 59 42
  • Round Accuracy 75.0% 6 2
  • Underdog Accuracy 46.2% 12 14
View full track record (237 calls)
The MMA Guru
Hear it — 10:13

Current pick evidence

Picked: Felipe Franco

Fight result: Felipe Franco · KO/TKO

Takes Franco because he has been competitive against stronger opposition than Rodrigues Jr.

“I reckon Felipe Franco actually will win”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 65.9% 203 105
  • Method Accuracy 52.8% 57 51
  • Round Accuracy 32.4% 12 25
  • Underdog Accuracy 47.2% 17 19
View full track record (308 calls)

Analyst picks: AJ Devito Hit; The MMA Guru Hit; JakeGerberMMA Miss; DFS By The Numbers Miss; Half The Battle Miss.

Analyst prediction scorecards
Expand row
AJ Devito237 resolved calls
AJ Devito
Hear it — 20:15

Current pick evidence

Picked: Felipe Franco

Fight result: Felipe Franco · KO/TKO

Takes underdog Franco, favoring his grappling and the prospect of taking Rodrigues down and controlling the fight.

“fight. So, Felipe Franco as an underdog is going to be my pick and I'm kind of”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 69.6% 165 72
  • Method Accuracy 58.4% 59 42
  • Round Accuracy 75.0% 6 2
  • Underdog Accuracy 46.2% 12 14
View full track record (237 calls)
Historic market Underdog call, market price 41.5%. Franco · to winFranco · KO/TKO R2HitNot calledNot called
The MMA Guru308 resolved calls
The MMA Guru
Hear it — 10:13

Current pick evidence

Picked: Felipe Franco

Fight result: Felipe Franco · KO/TKO

Takes Franco because he has been competitive against stronger opposition than Rodrigues Jr.

“I reckon Felipe Franco actually will win”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 65.9% 203 105
  • Method Accuracy 52.8% 57 51
  • Round Accuracy 32.4% 12 25
  • Underdog Accuracy 47.2% 17 19
View full track record (308 calls)
Historic market Underdog call, market price 41.5%. Franco · to winFranco · KO/TKO R2HitNot calledNot called
JakeGerberMMA127 resolved calls
JakeGerberMMA
Hear it — 12:39

Current pick evidence

Picked: Levi Rodrigues Jr.

Fight result: Felipe Franco · KO/TKO

Takes Rodrigues' power and pressure over Franco's inconsistent, hesitant form.

“Rodriguez by first round knockout. out. If he didn't get an early KO, I could”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 65.4% 83 44
  • Method Accuracy 60.4% 29 19
  • Round Accuracy 44.4% 4 5
  • Underdog Accuracy 30.0% 3 7
View full track record (127 calls)
Historic market Favourite call, market price 58.5%. Rodrigues Jr. · to winFranco · KO/TKO R2MissNot applicable — the winner call missedNot applicable — the winner call missed
DFS By The Numbers146 resolved calls
DFS By The Numbers
Hear it — 12:10

Current pick evidence

Picked: Levi Rodrigues Jr.

Fight result: Felipe Franco · KO/TKO

Takes Rodrigues based on the more convincing striking, power and cardio from the regional tape.

“going to take Rodriguez to win this fight, and I'm going to take him to win”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 64.4% 94 52
  • Method Accuracy 58.5% 48 34
  • Round Accuracy 35.9% 14 25
  • Underdog Accuracy 35.0% 7 13
View full track record (146 calls)
Historic market Favourite call, market price 58.5%. Rodrigues Jr. · to winFranco · KO/TKO R2MissNot applicable — the winner call missedNot applicable — the winner call missed
Half The Battle98 resolved calls
Half The Battle
Hear it — 35:21

Current pick evidence

Picked: Levi Rodrigues Jr. · KO/TKO

Fight result: Felipe Franco · KO/TKO

Picks Rodrigues to knock out Franco, while noting the unanswered questions if the matchup stays on the mat.

“caution in a match-up like this. But I'll pick Levi to come out here and”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 56.1% 55 43
  • Method Accuracy 71.4% 10 4
  • Round Accuracy 50.0% 1 1
  • Underdog Accuracy 26.1% 6 17
View full track record (98 calls)
Historic market Favourite call, market price 58.5%. Rodrigues Jr. · KO/TKOFranco · KO/TKO R2MissNot applicable — the winner call missedNot applicable — the winner call missed

2 of 5 called the winner.

The experts above are a lens, not credentials we conferred — analyst, fighter or betting desk.

No AI predictions are available for this fight yet.

No market odds are available for this fight yet.

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