For the most part, this played out as a clash of styles, with Rodriguez having more success on the feet and showing her experience in the striking exchanges, while Lucindo repeatedly turned clinch opportunities into takedowns, neutralizing her opponent’s weapons while landing short blows of her own. Lucindo worked her way to mount early in the third, but the position for pressing her chin into the eye socket of Rodriguez, with the duo running level for the remainder of the round.
When the tens and nines were added up, it was Lucindo that emerged on the happy side of the split decision verdict, picking up the biggest win of her young career and fourth straight UFC victory in the process. The youngest female fighter on the roster and fourth youngest overall, the 22-year-old Lucindo could very well find herself in the Top 10 when the rankings update next week.