Cannonier, Rodrigues headline a star-studded UFC Fight Night 251
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UFC Fight Night 251: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues is set to wake fans up from a post-PPV hangover with plenty of exciting fights and star-studded matchups. The card will take place inside the UFC Apex on Saturday, February 15th. The action begins at 4:00PM ET / 2:00PM MT, live on ESPN+.
Top of the Bill
Obviously the main event features superstar talent in the middleweight matchup between Jared Cannonier and Gregory Rodrigues. Cannonier, who is on a two-fight skid, puts his #8 rank on the line against the unranked Rodrigues. Why Rodrigues isn’t ranked already is questionable. But, this will be a true test to see if he can compete with the division’s elite.
In the co-main event, the New England native Calvin Kattar, takes on Youssef Zalal. Kattar is currently ranked #10. Zalal has been having quite a successful second run in the UFC. Like Gregory in the main event, Zalal is outside the rankings fighting against someone at the top of the division.
Other Prospects to Watch
The Bonfim Brother
Gabriel Bonfim is on the prelims, which is almost disrespectful. He is fighting against Khaos Williams, who is coming in on short notice. His brother Ismael Bonfim, is featured on the main card in a fight against the standout from Azerbaijan, Nazim Sadykhov. This will be the first time both brothers fight on the same card since UFC 283 in January of 2023. They almost fought together in November last year, but Ismael’s fight was canceled due to him missing weight. They fought together on Contender Series back in 2022 as well. When the brothers have fought together, they have both won their fights. They have not however, had the same luck when not fighting on the same card.
Other Interesting Fights to Watch
The flyweight fight between Rafael Estevam and Jesus Aguilar is an interesting matchup. It’s two prospects battling to climb the ladder as they begin to enter their prime. Estevam should look to put on a good showing after a weight miss in his promotional debut. Aguilar is in the same situation, as he also missed weight in his last fight. But Aguilar has a good history with the UFC, despite losing in his debut. He has won three fights in a row with two finishes.
Another matchup to keep an eye on is Vince Morales vs. Elijah Smith in the bantamweight division. Morales is a veteran making his second run in the UFC. While he is 0-1 in the start of his second stint, he looked impressive and proved not to be an easy out. Smith is a young prospect making his UFC debut after earning a contract in Contender Series last season. In that fight, Smith did fade towards the end. He cannot afford to make that mistake against the scrappy Morales.
What else are you excited to watch at UFC Fight Night 251? Let us know in the comments below.
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