LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 14: Jared Cannonier poses on the size through the UFC Struggle Evening weigh-in on the Palace Station Lodge & On line casino on February 14, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
In UFC Vegas 102’s fundamental occasion, a streaking Gregory Rodrigues met a former title challenger, now relegated to gatekeeper in Jared Cannonier. Might Rodrigues pull off the win in opposition to the getting old veteran like Youssef Zalal did within the struggle simply earlier than?
The person they name ‘Robocop’ is Cannonier’s junior by eight years and he appeared prefer it early. He appeared quicker and extra highly effective. His photographs have been snappier and he knocked Cannonier down twice within the opening spherical. The ‘Killa Gorilla’ confirmed extra life in spherical two, as his expertise was beginning to come in useful after surviving an early storm. In spherical three, the tempo was noticeably slower. Rodrigues was maybe not anticipating his opponent to nonetheless be standing after his output within the opening spherical. Cannonier, conscious of the ability coming again, appeared extra exact and took benefit of Robocop’s decrease output. He knocked him down with an elbow within the final minute and pounded him out to steal the spherical. The fourth spherical began and the veteran instantly put it on Rodrigues, getting the TKO simply 21 seconds in.
After dropping back-to-back fights to rising contenders, the UFC gave Jared Cannonier a transparent step again in competitors as, whereas thrilling, Gregory Rodrigues is just not a fighter who was seen by the followers in the identical approach that the likes of Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho have been. These are two “next gen” fighters that had a transparent pace benefit over the veteran Cannonier and absolutely took benefit of it. Rodrigues has good attributes (sturdy, expert grappler, packs a very good punch), however pace isn’t one among them. Regardless of getting tagged early, Cannonier was finally ready to determine Rodrigues on the ft and finally discover the knockout.
With the victory, Cannonier proved that whereas a gatekeeper, he’s nonetheless a very good litmus check for up-and-comers. This win gained’t all of the sudden propel him again into the title image, however it is going to hold him firmly inside the highest 10. He’s most likely taking a look at the same matchup subsequent, as it is going to take greater than a type of varieties of win for the UFC to have him struggle up the rankings once more.
As for Rodrigues, this offers us a good suggestion of what his ceiling is. He’s all the time been an entertaining fighter to observe. His fan-favourite type is what offered him with such a alternative as his three-fight win streak most likely didn’t warrant a struggle with the number-seven ranked Cannonier, if we’re being sincere. At 32, he’s in what’s often thought of the bodily prime of most fighters, though it’s not unimaginable for fighters in increased weight lessons to age slowly (Cannonier being exhibit A). We should always anticipate a giant step again in competitors for ‘Robocop.’ His enjoyable combating type may be what permits him to get one other shot on the rating sooner relatively than later in a division that wants some new blood in its rankings.
