What's at Stake UFC Fight Night 251: Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues

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For the second time in three weeks, an older fighter on a losing streak is looking to avoid being labeled a gatekeeper to the up-and-comers. The 40-year-old Jared Cannonier has lost his last two fights and faces Gregory Rodrigues, who is on a 3-fight win streak.

Cannonier's two losses were to fighters ranked in the top 10, and they have the potential to be fighting for a title in the near future. Against Rodrigues, Jared finds himself facing an unranked opponent for the first time in years. Since 2019, he has shared the octagon with the who's who of the middleweight division. His resume includes Anderson Silva, Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, and Robert Whittaker, all former champions. After winning two straight, he ran into current #2 Nassourdine Imavov and current #6 Caio Borralho, where he lost by TKO and unanimous decision.

Gregory Rodrigues is in desperate need of a big-name victory to boost his standings in the middleweight division. His last three wins came against opponents with a combined record of 40-23. The positive for Rodrigues is that he won two of those fights by TKO and the third by a clear 30-27 unanimous decision.

A win over Cannonier in his first main event fight could boost Rodrigues' stock enough to earn a fight with an opponent just outside the top 15 or possibly a ranked opponent with a Performance of the Night bonus.

Rodrigues and Cannonier are both more than capable of delivering a banger of a fight. Cannonier has a 59% finish rate, and Rodrigues has a 56%, which are both well above average. Both fighters are capable of shutting each other's lights out in an instant. Rodrigues will look to pressure and overwhelm, while Cannonier will look to counter and land the more accurate shots.

The wild card will be if Rodrigues decides to use his grappling and BJJ. He could alter the fight by trying to wrestle Cannonier, where he should have the advantage. He scored 4 takedowns in his last fight.

This will be a pivotal fight for both men as Rodrigues tries to break into the top 15, and Cannonier attempts to stay relevant in the 185-pound division. The oddsmakers have Rodrigues as the favorite, but a Cannonier win would hardly be classified as an upset. I do not see this Apex main event going the distance, with heavy punches being thrown early.

Look for an action-packed fight to close out the night.