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It was an incredible back-and-forth battle while it lasted, but the veteran Jared Cannonier won over Gregory Rodrigues in the fourth round of their main event matchup at the UFC Apex.

## Result: Jared Cannonier def. Gregory Rodrigues via 4th Round TKO (0:21)

Rodrigues got off to a very strong start, scoring two knockdowns in the first round and walking forward the entire time. The second round saw Cannonier start to land more often and make it an even fight through two rounds. The third saw Rodrigues begin to push back landing some good shots before a late elbow from Cannonier sent him to the canvas where he barely survived the round. It was clear at the start of the fourth that Rodrigues had not recovered and Cannonier was able to quickly jump on him and finish the fight.


>"I could do this for five more rounds if we needed to" - Jared Cannonier

What did you think of the fight? Let us know in the comments.

Jared Cannonier Survives Early Onslaught to Finish Gregory Rodrigues

The UFC is back in the Apex tomorrow, headlined by Middleweight contenders Jared Cannonier and Gregory Rodrigues facing off. The official weigh-ins took place today; here are the results.

## Main Card 7 PM EST

**Middleweight:** Jared Cannonier (185.5) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (186)

**Featherweight:** Calvin Kattar (146) vs. Youssef Zalal (146)

**Middleweight:** Edmen Shahbazyan (185.5) vs. Dylan Budka (186)

**Lightweight:** Nazim Sadykhov (156) vs. Ismael Bonfim (156)

**Middleweight:** Rodolfo Viera (185.5) vs. Andre Petroski (186)

**Featherweight:** Connor Matthews (146) vs. Jose Delgado (146)

## Prelims 4 PM EST

**Strawweight:** Angela Hill (115.5) vs. Ketlen Souza (115.5)

**Flyweight:** Jesus Aguilar (125.5) vs. Rafael Estevam (126)

**Welterweight:** Khaos Williams (169.5) vs. Gabriel Bonfim (170.5)

**Bantamweight:** Vince Morales (136) vs. Elijah Smith (135.5)

**Heavyweight:** Don'Tale Mayes (266) vs. Valter Walker (245)

**Bantamweight:** Julia Avila (135.5) vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti (134.5)

*The Lightweight Fight between Jared Gordon and Mashrabjon Ruziboev was canceled after an issue with Ruziboev

UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues Weigh-In Results

The UFC returns to the Apex this weekend with a solid card of action headlined by Middleweight veterans Jared Cannonier +175 and Gregory Rodrigues -222. I went over that matchup and the rest of the card to give my predictions and best bets so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by Duelbits accurate as of 2/12/2025**

## Jared Cannonier +175 vs. Gregory Rodrigues -222

Hard-hitting Middleweight knockout artists collide in this high-stakes main event. Jared Cannonier is a tested vet who has proven himself to belong near the top of the rankings for many years with his ability to throw powerful strikes at a high volume, although he is now over forty years old and has been hurt a lot in recent fights. Gregory Rodrigues is an offensive juggernaut with knockout power and slick skills on the ground, although his defense is concerning at times, with him having been hurt or knocked out several times in fights he should have comfortably won.

I've got 'Robocop' Rodrigues to find a finish in this one as I feel he will continue to build as the fight goes on when we have seen Cannonier fade later in his recent performances against Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho.

Prediction: Rodrigues by 2nd Round TKO

## Calvin Kattar +350 vs. Youssef Zalal -476

Crossroads matchup here at Featherweight as a streaking up-and-comer takes on a struggling vet. Calvin Kattar looks to get back on track here using the boxing that once had him on the cusp of a title shot before his current losing streak, with the most recent loss being a terrible showing against Aljamain Sterling, where he was outwrestled all fight. Youssef Zalal has looked tremendous since returning to the UFC, finishing all three of his wins with a mix of knockouts and submissions, showing his well-rounded game.

I like Zalal to take a decision here as he is going to be the higher output fighter with a big advantage in the grappling but Kattar has proven very difficult to finish over his career.

Prediction: Zalal by Decision

## Edmen Shahbazyan -370 vs. Dylan Budka +280

It's a fun fight here at Middleweight featuring a very exciting fighter looking to get back on track. Edmen Shahbazyan is a very fast and dangerous fighter early with some impressive first-round wins although, when fights get extended, he falls apart, as has been the case in four of his last six fights. Dylan Budka will look to get his first UFC win here after two rather unimpressive performances, he's a decent wrestler although, his striking and cardio are very questionable.

This should be a quick finish for Shahbazyan as Budka has not looked anywhere near UFC level in his recent fights.

Prediction: Shahbazyan by 1st Round KO

## Ismael Bonfim -208 vs. Nazim Sadykhov +165

Violence is expected in this fantastic Lightweight matchup. Ismael Bonfim is a big swinging powerhouse with a solid wrestling game, although he can neglect proper defense at times, as was the case in his loss to Benoit Saint-Denis, who finished him in the first round. Nazim Sadykhov is a high-paced and durable fighter with good finishing skills both on the feet and on the mat as he has shown with finishes of Evan Elder and Terrance McKinney. 

I took Sadykhov here as I feel he is the more defensively responsible fighter with the finishing upside here both in the striking and submission game. With that, Nazim Sadykhov is my best bet of the week.

Prediction: Sadykhov by 3rd Round Submission (Best Bet)

## Rodolfo Viera -270 vs. Andre Petroski +210

Strong grapplers will go head to head here at Middleweight. Rodolfo Viera is a very dangerous submission artist who has adapted his game well since joining the UFC. Andre Petroski is a strong wrestler with decent striking, but his durability and cardio are both rather questionable.

I see Viera getting an early submission here, as Petroski will likely be willing to have grappling exchanges with him where I believe he will make a mistake.

Prediction: Viera by 1st Round Submission

## Jose Delgado -370 vs. Connor Matthews +285

A highly anticipated Featherweight debut opens the main card here. Jose Delgado makes his first UFC appearance here coming off five straight finishes showing fight-ending power. Connor Matthews is a tough fighter with solid power although he takes a lot of big shots and doesn't use his grappling which is pretty good when he does show it.

Delgado likely wins this one as Matthews is very hittable in the striking although at these odds I can't got anywhere near him betting-wise.

Prediction: Delgado by Decision

## Angela Hill -111 vs. Ketlen Souza -110

Strawweights looking to push their way up in the rankings face off in this one. Angela Hill is a tough veteran with a high-volume kickboxing style although she is now forty years old which is cause for some concern. Ketlen Souza looks to build off back-to-back wins here after a very impressive upset of Yazmin Jauregui where she showed good finishing instincts and really made a name for herself.

I lean toward Souza here as she is the much younger fighter who I feel has the finishing and grappling upside in this matchup.

Prediction: Souza by Decision

## Jared Gordon -294 vs. Mashrabjon Ruziboev +225

Veteran against newcomer matchup here at Lightweight. Jared Gordon is a tough and well-rounded veteran with solid boxing who has competed with some ranked opponents and held his own throughout his career. Mashrabjon Ruziboev makes his octagon debut here with an interesting record, to say the least having mostly finished opponents with losing records in the first round which raises red flags to me.

I've got Gordon in this one as he has proven he can compete with high-level competition and I don't believe Ruziboev has proven he belongs at this level.

Prediction: Gordon by Decision

## Rafael Estevam -476 vs. Jesus Aguilar +340

Fun grapplers face off in this interesting Flyweight matchup. Rafael Estevam is an undefeated prospect who returns after over a year away since his debut win over Charles Johnson where he looked great early but faded in the final round. Jesus Aguilar looks to extend his three-fight win streak here with his solid boxing and dangerous choke game that has helped him earn three straight wins with two coming by first-round finish.

I'm going with Estevam here as I see him being the much better fighter wherever the fight goes.

Prediction: Estevam by Decision

## Gabriel Bonfim -217 vs. Khaos Williams +190

Welterweight finishers collide in this must-see matchup early on the card. Gabriel Bonfim is a very skilled and dangerous grappler coming off a win where he showed big improvements to his cardio after a disastrous collapse against Nicolas Dalby that left many wondering if he belonged. Khaos Williams is a durable knockout puncher coming off an impressive win over Carlston Harris, my big concern with him is he has only fought once a year each of the last three years having been off since last May.

I like Bonfim in this one as I feel he has a big grappling advantage and can avoid the big shots on the feet, although it is difficult to trust him at this price.

Prediction: Bonfim by Decision

## Vince Morales +132 vs. Elijah Smith -161

Bantamweights looking to prove they belong at this level go head-to-head in this one. Vince Morales is a gritty and dangerous fighter with solid power in his hands and a crafty submission game. Elijah Smith debuts off an impressive contender series win at just twenty-two years old, having already shown improvements from early in his career when cardio was a concern.

I lean towards Morales here as the underdog with him being the much more experienced fighter with fewer question marks around his game. 

Prediction: Morales by Decision

## Valter Walker -238 vs. Don'Tale Mayes +190

Heavyweights looking to push their way into the wide-open rankings battle it out here. Valter Walker is a solid grappler, especially for this weight, coming off a leg lock win, which is rare for this division. Don'Tale Mayes is a decently athletic wrestler with solid power, as he showed in his win over Andrei Arlovski.

At these odds, I'll go with Mayes as I feel he is a slightly better striker, and Walker won't have the same type of advantage on the ground as he did against Junior Tafa.

Prediction: Mayes by Decision

## Julia Avila +440 vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti -625

Bantamweights looking to make a name for themselves open the card here. Julia Avila returns from another long layoff here, she was a solid finisher early in her career but has struggled with consistency and activity. Jacqueline Cavalcanti comes into this one, having won her first three UFC fights using a solid kickboxing game.

I'm picking Cavalcanti here as she has proven she is a solid fighter and has been active when Avila has not competed since being finished by Miesha Tate in 2023.

Prediction: Cavalcanti by Decision

UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues Odds Breakdown

It was another five battle between Middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland at UFC 312 but this time there was no doubt that Du Plessis was the clear winner. 

## Result: Dricus Du Plessis def. Sean Strickland via Unanimous Decision (50-45,-50-45. 49-46)

It was a clean performance from the champion as he won every round on most people's scorecards making sure this decision was much more clear than the first fight which ended in a split decision. The fourth round saw a Du Plessis land a big shot that badly damaged the nose of Sean Strickland and put him on the back foot nearly ending the fight although Strickland would survive to see the scorecards.


>"He wants to stand and bang and I was willing to engage" - Dricus Du Plessis

What did you think of the fight? Let us know in the comments.

Dricus Du Plessis Defends Title in Rematch Against Sean Strickland at UFC 312

Strawweight champion Weili Zhang defended her belt for a third time tonight with a fantastic performance against Tatiana Suarez in the co-main event at UFC 312.

## Result: Weili Zhang def. Tatiana Suarez via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45)

It was a strong start for the challenger as Suarez secured an early takedown and attempted her signature guillotine choke late in the first round. The second round saw a dramatic shift in momentum as Zhang began to stuff the takedowns and take top position while dominating the striking. The third round saw Zhang land a huge right hand that hurt Suarez badly as the champion had completely taken over the fight. The championship rounds were all Zhang, with her dominating the striking and grappling with ease over an exhausted and hurt Suarez.


>"I respect Tatiana, she is very strong" - Weili Zhang

What did you think of Zhang's performance? Let us know in the comments.

Weili Zhang Dominates Tatiana Suarez to Defend Title at UFC 312

It was announced on the broadcast for UFC 312 that former Flyweight champion Brandon Moreno would face former title challenger Steve Erceg in a main event matchup next month. The fight is scheduled for March 29th at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico.

## Announcement: Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg Flyweight Main Event

This will be Moreno's first appearance since his unanimous decision win over Amir Albazi in Edmonton, Canada in November last year. For Erceg, this will be the first time we see him since he was knocked out by Kai Kara-France at UFC 305.

Who are you picking in this massive Flyweight clash? Let us know in the comments.

Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg Set For UFC Mexico City

Liam Lindsay

The UFC is back in Sydney, Australia this weekend for a double title fight headliner, main-evented by Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland. One fight that could very arguably be placed up on the main card is the clash between Colby Thicknesse and Aleksandre Topuria, so we're going to talk a little more about it today.

**This fight takes place in the Bantamweight division (135 lbs.)**

Colby Thicknesse enters the fight with an undefeated 7-0 record. The Australian is the former HEX Bantamweight Champion and has four career finishes.

Aleksandre Topuria holds a 5-1 record. Despite making his MMA debut nearly ten years ago, he's remained inactive. However, he has a 100% finish rate.

**Official Odds: Colby Thicknesse +250, Aleksandre Topuria -385.**

Thicknesse is an Australian with a well-rounded skill set, who uses a grappling-heavy approach, proven as both his KO/TKO wins have come via ground-and-pound. Training out of Freestyle MMA, the same gym that  Alex Volkanovski trains out of, he's been surrounded by some of the best minds in the game. Thicknesse coached TUF alongside Volkanovski, working with UFC alumni Bryan Battle and Ricky Turcios. With his gritty style, he'll look to drag Topuria into deep waters and drown him.

On the other side, Aleksandre Topuria brings a dangerous combination of knockout power and submission skills. He is the older brother of UFC Featherweight Champion, Ilia Topuria. His background in grappling gives him confidence on the ground, but he shines on the feet with devastating boxing combinations. However, Aleksandre last fought on May 20th, 2023, so this layoff could affect his performance against the much fresher Colby Thicknesse. He has finished all of his wins inside two rounds, showing his ability to put opponents away quickly.

With these prospects looking to impress in their UFC debuts, this is a fight you don’t want to miss. Both men are backed by the two best Featherweights in the world, and will bring their all to make a stamp at UFC 312.

Verdict's Sleeper Fight of the Week: Thicknesse vs. Topuria

The UFC is heading back to Sydney, Australia, at the Kudos Bank Arena for a PPV card headlined by the rematch between Middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland with the Strawweight belt on the line in the co-main event as Weili Zhang takes on Tatiana Suarez. I went over those fights and every other matchup on the card to give my predictions and best bets, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by Duelbits accurate as of 2/7/2025**

## Dricus Du Plessis -222 vs. Sean Strickland +175

This highly anticipated Middleweight rematch will go down here at our main event. Dricus Du Plessis has become famous for his awkward style of frequent blitzing with powerful strikes, and his freakish strength allows him to dominate his opponents in grappling. Sean Strickland also has a unique style, carrying a very boxing-heavy approach, mixing in some teep kicks, he's also hard to hit clean as he is very defensively responsible.

I'll pick Du Plessis to get the job done again here. He is the fighter much more likely to find the finish, and we already saw he can take a decision with the bigger punches and takedowns. 

Prediction: Du Plessis by 2nd Round Submission

## Weili Zhang -101 vs. Tatiana Suarez -120

The Strawweight title is on the line between two fierce competitors in our co-main event. Weili Zhang has continually improved over her domination of the division with powerful, high-volume striking and a strong ground game that helped her submit Carla Esparza and take a decision in her last fight against Xiaonan Yan. Tatiana Suarez is an undefeated wrestler who has struggled to consistently stay active as injuries have plagued her career, forcing her to take several years off when she was seemingly about to get her first opportunity at the belt, although when she has been in the cage, she has always been dominant, with four finishes in her last five fights.

I lean towards Zhang here, as I can't justify taking Suarez as a favorite here against a dominant champion when she hasn't consistently competed, and her best performances were over five years ago.

Prediction: Zhang by Decision

## Tallison Teixeira -164 vs. Justin Tafa +133

Powerful Heavyweights clash here in this one that could end in the blink of an eye. Tallison Teixeira makes his debut here as an undefeated finisher coming off a first-round knockout on Dana White's Contender Series. Justin Tafa is a dangerous puncher, with all of his UFC wins coming by first-round knockout, although his game is missing a lot as he struggles greatly whenever his opponent can grapple.

I'll go with Teixeira here as he has a sizable reach advantage, he is younger, and if there is any grappling he will have the advantage.

Prediction: Teixeira by 1st Round TKO

## Jimmy Crute +132 vs. Rodolfo Bellato -161

Light Heavyweight finishers square off here in what is sure to be a wild fight. Jimmy Crute was once a top prospect who seemed well on his way to being a real contender, although with three losses and a draw in his last four, including a brutal submission loss to Alonzo Menifield the last time we saw him has left many wondering if he has it in him anymore. Rodolfo Bellato comes into this off a crazy debut win where Ihor Potieria dropped him badly and seemingly had him finished before completely gassing out, which Bellato took advantage of by getting top position and finishing the fight.

I like Crute here as, despite his rough stretch, this is a massive step down in competition, and if he can return to the form he had early in his career, he can dominate this matchup both standing or on the ground. With that, Jimmy Crute is this weeks best bet of the week.

Prediction: Crute by 1st Round KO (Best Bet)

## Jake Matthews -244 vs. Francisco Prado +190

Welterweights on the rise go head-to-head here to open up the main card. Jake Matthews is a tough veteran with a well-rounded game, leaning heavily on his boxing but still having the ground game to take the fight there if needed. Francisco Prado comes up from Lightweight here after showing crazy toughness and solid power in his hands through his first three UFC fights.

I think Matthews takes a decision here as he is the much more experienced fighter with a more well-rounded skillset, but Prado has proven very difficult to finish.

Prediction: Matthews by Decision

## Jack Jenkins +190 vs. Gabriel Santos -238

Two Featherweights looking to keep their momentum going face off in this featured prelim. Jack Jenkins is a fun striker with a very hard leg kick, although his ground game is still questionable. Gabriel Santos is a dangerous fighter with a very well-rounded offensive attack, although his defense can be lacking at times, with him having a lot of trust in his chin, as was the case against David Onama where he was knocked out by the powerful striker.

I've got Santos here, as I think he is the much more dangerous fighter with a big advantage in the grappling.

Prediction: Santos by 3rd Round Submission

## Tom Nolan -101 vs. Viacheslav Borshchev -120

Powerful Lightweight strikers will test their skills against one another in this fun matchup. Tom Nolan is a young prospect who is very big for the division with big power and questionable defense, which has led to four of his last five fights ending in the first round. Viacheslav Borshchev is a skilled kickboxer who mixes up his kicks and his boxing very well, although his durability has been inconsistent, with him getting dropped badly by Nazim Sadykhov and Chase Hooper. 

I'm going to take Borshchev here as despite him being the older guy at the physical disadvantage he is the far more skilled and experienced fighter making me believe he can overcome the size of Nolan.

Prediction: Borshchev by 2nd Round KO

## Cong Wang -385 vs. Bruna Brasil +295

Up and coming Flyweights battle here to see who will move up in the division's ranks. Cong Wang came into the UFC with a lot of hype and scored an early knockout in her debut, although she suffered a massive upset loss in her last fight after getting dropped and choked out by Gabriella Fernandes. Bruna Brasil comes from the popular Fighting Nerds, and she showed growth in her game with her last win over Molly McCann, where she dominated both the striking and grappling. 

At these odds, I can't justify taking Wang after what we saw from her last time out, so I'll pick Brasil as the underdog, but I don't have much confidence there.

Prediction: Brasil by Decision

## Aleksandre Topuria -385 vs. Colby Thicknesse +290

Two debutants are matched up here in this highly anticipated Bantamweight matchup. Aleksandre Topuria comes in with plenty of expectation as the older brother of Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, and he comes in with five wins, all coming inside the distance. Colby Thicknesse comes from the gym of former champion Alexander Volkanovski, and he does so with a solid ground game.

This price may seem high given Topuria's experience, but he has surely gained plenty of valuable experience training alongside his brother, which I expect will work in his favor here and help him find another quick finish.

Prediction: Topuria by 1st Round Submission

## Kody Steele -270 vs. Rongzhu +215

Young Lightweights clash here, looking to make a name for themselves in a deep division. Kody Steele makes his debut here off an impressive performance on Dana White's Contender Series, where he showed his solid boxing to go with a strong grappling base. Rongzhu looks to bounce back here after a tough loss in a fight against Chris Padilla, where he looked very good before suffering swelling that shut his eye and forced the doctor to stop the fight.

I'm going with Rongzhu as the underdog here, as I feel this could turn into a very close striking match with Rongzhu having more experience at this level.

Prediction: Rongzhu by Decision

## Kevin Jousset -250 vs. Jonathan Micallef +200

Two Welterweights who are both very familiar with fighting in Australia in their regional days. Kevin Jousset is a solid kickboxer from the famous City Kickboxing gym, coming off a hard-fought war with Bryan Battle where he was finished in the second round after a crazy pace early. Jonathan Micallef is a solid grappler coming in off a first-round submission win that earned him a contract on Dana White's Contender Series. 

I'll pick Jousset in this one as I feel he is the much better striker with good enough grappling to dictate where the fight takes place.

Prediction: Jousset by Decision

## Quillan Salkilld -667 vs. Anshul Jubli +450

Lightweights looking to establish their place square off in this interesting matchup. Quillan Salkilld is a well-rounded fighter who comes in off a solid win on Dana White's Contender Series, which was his seventh straight win since losing his pro debut. Anshul Jubli is a skilled fighter who showed solid striking early against Mike Breeden before collapsing late and being finished. 

Salkilld should have every advantage in this matchup and is the hometown guy so I'll pick him to win, but I would caution people as betting on a debutant at these odds is an unnecessary risk.

Prediction: Salkilld by 2nd Round TKO

UFC 312 Odds Breakdown

UFC 312 goes down this weekend, headlined by Middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis taking on Sean Strickland in a rematch. The official weigh-ins took place today; here are the results.

## Main Card 10 PM EST

**Middleweight:** Sean Strickland (185) vs. Dricus Du Plessis (185)

**Strawweight:** Weili Zhang (115) vs. Tatiana Suarez (114.5)

**Heavyweight:** Tallison Teixeira (263) vs. Justin Tafa (266)

**Light Heavyweight:** Jimmy Crute (206) vs. Rodolfo Bellato (205)

**Welterweight:** Jake Matthews (170.5) vs. Francisco Prado (170.5)

## Prelims 7 PM EST

**Featherweight:** Jack Jenkins (146) vs. Gabriel Santos (145.5)

**Lightweight:** Tom Nolan (155.5) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (156)

**Flyweight:** Cong Wang (125) vs. Bruna Brasil (125.5)

**Bantamweight:** Aleksandre Topuria (135.5) vs. Colby Thicknesse (135.5)

**Lightweight:** Kody Steele (156) vs. Rongzhu (156)

**Welterweight:** Kevin Jousset (171) vs. Jonathan Micallef (170)

**Lightweight:** Quillan Salkilld (156) vs. Anshul Jubli (155.5)

*Nyamjargal Tumendemberel had issues cutting weight, the Flyweight  fight between him and Hyun Sung Park has been canceled 

UFC 312 Weigh-In Results

Former Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz officially retired from mixed martial arts today after it was announced that he was not going to be able to compete in his scheduled fight with Rob Font at UFC Seattle. He has competed professionally since 2005 and will finish with a record of 24-4.

Cruz was a two-time Bantamweight champion in the UFC and held the belt in the WEC, with wins over legends like Uriah Faber, TJ Dillashaw, and Demetrious Johnson. His career was unfortunately plagued by injuries, with him being forced to take several long layoffs, one of which interrupted his title reign and another that kept him out over three years after losing to Cody Garbrandt. His last win came at UFC 269, where he came back after suffering an early knockdown to win a unanimous decision against Pedro Munhoz. He did lose the final fight of his career although he was competitive with a much younger and dangerous Marlon Vera until a fourth-round headkick ended the fight. Cruz will continue to work as a commentator for the UFC in the role he has served for years, providing quality analysis on many historic cards including UFC 229, which was the most purchased PPV in UFC history.

What is your favorite Dominick Cruz memory? Let us know in the comments.

Ashlee Evans-Smith