Rodriguez beats Caceres in UFC Salt Lake City main event

Yair Rodriguez defeated Alex Caceres via split decision at UFC Fight Night 92 in Salt Lake City on Saturday.

In a featherweight bout that surprisingly went the distance, both fighters threw - and landed - very little of consequence. Rodriguez pushed the pace throughout the first two rounds, throwing every spinning technique known to the sport. While few of his high-flying strikes landed cleanly, "El Pantera" was easily the busier fighter in that stretch, disrupting any attempt by Caceres to establish a rhythm.

The third teased a shift in momentum, as it was the only frame Caceres took cleanly. "Bruce Leeroy" found some success with his combinations, capitalizing on a tiring, thus seldom airborne, Rodriguez.

The tide turned back in Rodriguez's favor in the championship rounds as Caceres failed to build on the success he had found in the third. Visibly tired and thus far less reckless, Rodriguez still managed to remain the more active fighter, recovering from a late takedown to claim the fourth and fifth.

The fight was much closer than the flamboyant kicks and spinning fists would convey, as Caceres wasn't visibly hurt by Rodriguez's early onslaught. Ironically enough, the notoriously wild Caceres was the tamer fighter, while Rodriguez's unpredictability was nearly rendered anything but. While he couldn't match the output of "El Pantera," Caceres' footwork and elusiveness were enough for one judge to score the bout in his favor.

Rodriguez, who's been touted as a superstar in the making, improves to 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the UFC.

Caceres is now 2-1 since his return to featherweight.