LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 14: Gregory Rodrigues of Brazil poses on the dimensions throughout the UFC Struggle Night time weigh-in on the Palace Station Lodge & On line casino on February 14, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
The UFC provided one other evening of thrilling fights with one other Apex card that includes a middleweight showdown in the principle occasion. #7-ranked middleweight, Jared Cannonier defended his gate keeper standing at UFC Vegas 102, melting the unranked Gregory Rodrigues within the fourth. Within the co-main occasion, just about the other occurred with the #10-ranked Calvin Kattar falling to an unranked Youssef Zalal. Fighters in any respect totally different phases of their careers on this principal card so some wide-ranging matchups on this version of Losers.
Gregory Rodrigues
40-year-old Jared Cannonier discovered a solution for Gregory Rodrigues as he stopped him in principal occasion rounds on Saturday. ‘Robocop’ was using a three-fight successful streak heading into this combat. Rodrigues had stopped Denis Tiuliulin and Brad Tavares earlier than successful a unanimous determination towards Christan Lerory Duncan in July of final yr.
Powerful loss for Rodrigues, as that was his likelihood as an unranked fighter to not simply break into the rankings however probably leapfrog inside the highest 10. The dropping efficiency nonetheless earned Gregory a combat of the evening honors, however he wanted that win to essentially transfer ahead.
Gregory ought to look exterior of the rankings for his subsequent matchup. With a powerful end he might be staring down one other high 10 opponent very quickly. A matchup towards Jack Hermansson might be a good suggestion. Hermanson is just a little over a yr faraway from his unanimous determination beatdown of scorching prospect Joe Pyfer. Earlier than that he had fights reverse of Roman Dolidze, Chris Curtis and the eventual UFC middleweight champion, Sean Strickland (who he solely misplaced to by cut up determination). This matchup could also be just a little out of the best way, nevertheless it’s an enormous alternative for Robocop to place a really massive and colourful feather in his cap. Might probably be a principal occasion or greater than possible a co-main occasion as properly.
Rodrigues’s subsequent combat: Jack Hermanson
Calvin Kattar
Calvin Kattar dropped a unanimous determination to Youssef Zalal within the UFC Vegas 102 co-main occasion on Saturday. Kattar had bother with the motion of his opponent because the #10 ranked featherweight dropped one more aggressive combat. Zalal entered the combat unranked, so this result’s certain to shake up the rankings just a little bit.
Kattar has dropped 5 of his final six because the begin of 2021, along with his solely win coming by unanimous determination towards Giga Chikadze in early 2022. Kattar’s efficiency wasn’t the worst, and although a combat towards #15 Edson Barboza might make sense and would give Kattar a shot to reestablish himself towards an growing old legend- the ball possible received’t roll that means. A far more possible matchup can be towards somebody like Alex Caceres. Alex is on a two-fight dropping skid reverse of the final man Kattar beat, Giga Chikadze, and most not too long ago, Sean Woodson in Might of final yr. Alex is a tenured and thrilling staple of the division who at all times brings dynamic putting to the combat. It could give Kattar an opportunity to propel himself if he is ready to produce a win. To not point out, Alex’s type may produce a bit simpler of a putting matchup for Calvin then his most up-to-date opponent.
Kattar’s subsequent combat: Alex Caceres
Dylan Budka
Dylan Budka misplaced a 95 second shoot out with Edmen Shahbazyan on Saturday. Struggle was thrilling whereas it lasted as Budka confirmed he was greater than prepared to sling leather-based with one of many extra talked about strikers within the division.
Budka entered the combat at 0-2 within the UFC since signing with the promotion off of his 2023 Contender Collection victory. He was stopped by Cesar Almeida in his promotional debut and misplaced to Andre Petroski in his final combat out after he missed weight for that bout (by 2.5lbs). Now this.
If the current development within the UFC continues Budka will possible be minimize. Middleweight is fairly shallow and Dylan is a recreation fighter, so he has a strong likelihood to remain on the roster.
Budka ought to face the loser of Sedriques Dumas vs Michal Oleksiejczuk on April twelfth. Michal has misplaced three in a row and has been stopped in two of these fights. Dumas is 3-2 with the promotion and coming off of a win final August towards Denis Tiuliulin. Each of those guys are additionally on the recent seat. And evidently, whoever loses this combat can be minimize, if it doesn’t occur earlier than that.
Budka’s subsequent combat: Sedriuqes Dumas vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk loser
Ismael Bonfim
Regardless of his brother Gabriel Bonfim choosing up a slick submission win on the undercard, the opposite Bonfim didn’t fare as properly. Bonfim skilled some early success at UFC Vegas 102, however, Nazim Sadykhov, got here storming again to set off a health care provider stoppage between the primary and second spherical. Ismael is now 2-2 within the UFC since coming off the Contender Collection in 2022. All of his fights have been bangers along with his kill or be killed type. Bonfim’s different loss is to Benoit Sanit-Denis in July of 2023.
Bonfim ought to face the winner of the Elves Brener vs Daniel Zellhuber. That combat goes down on March twenty ninth. Each of those males are 5 fights into each of their respective UFC careers. Brener is coming off of two losses and Zellhuber is coming off of 1. All three guys prefer to throw massive photographs, preserve the combat standing, and are thrilling prospects. Nice combat to see which of those prospects goes to evolve into extra of a reputation.
Bonfim’s subsequent combat: Daniel Zellhuber vs. Elves Brener winner
Rodolfo Vieria
Rodolfo Vieria misplaced a unaimous determination to Andre Petroski to begin the principle card of UFC Vegas 102 Saturday. Vieria struggled closely to safe takedowns all through the combat and now his 2-fight win, and end streak isn’t any extra. Vieria is now 5-3 in his 6-year UFC tenure.
Rodolfo ought to have his combat with Jacob Malkoun rebooked. That was who Vieria was purported to combat on Saturday. However Jacob bought injured and needed to withdraw from the bout. Malkoun in 4-3 with the UFC and stopped Andre Petroski in his final outing again in March of 2024. Two prospects who’ve stumbled a bit however nonetheless have big upsides, nice combat to make nonetheless.
Vieira’s subsequent combat: Jacob Malkoun
