UFC Fans Are in for a Treat š
Trust me, the matchmaking and schedule for February 15 is underratedā¦
In the middle of last weekās UFC 312 event from Sydney and next weekendās return spectacle in Seattle, we have UFC Vegas 102, live from the trusty Apex this coming Saturday.
Usually, Fight Night cards at the Apex get brushed off as mediocre cards with lower-end UFC fights, but trust me, the matchmaking and schedule for February 15 is underrated, and if you havenāt got a date for Valentineās Day, fear not, youāll LOVE some of the fighters competing on this card!
Middleweight action at the APEX š
Don’t miss Jared Cannonier vs @Gregory_MMA this Saturday!
[ #UFCVegas102 | Live on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/fPuZ0kzGl8ā UFC (@ufc) February 10, 2025
Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues
Ok, letās jump straight into the main event because, in all honesty, what could go wrong when we have two men nicknamed āThe Killa Gorillaā and āRobocopā?
Exactlyā¦nothing!
Who doesnāt want to see Cannonier’s Gorilla-like strength go toe-to-toe with Rodrigues’s brute force, akin to the cyborg-like power of Alex Murphy, aka Robocop?
Just in case you arenāt convinced, we have a former title contender in Cannonier whoās fought the whoās who at middleweight, including Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, Marvin Vettori, Nassourdine Imavov, Caio Borralho, Derek Brunson, Kelvin Gastelum, Robert Whittaker, Anderson Silva, Jack Hermansson, and many more at light heavyweight throughout his UFC tenure.
Tha Killa Gorilla has absolutely devastating KO power š
Jared Cannonier is back in the Octagon this Saturday at #UFCVegas102! pic.twitter.com/ZFjJOWRt5W
ā UFC (@ufc) February 10, 2025
Cannonier has defeated six of those aforementioned former title contenders and champions, thus making him a household name in UFC news who also doesnāt get referred to as the Killa Gorilla for no reason. With nine of his 17 pro-career wins coming by knockout, yes, Cannonier is known for his heavy hands, and he likes to use āem.
That said, it takes two to tango, and Robocop is the perfect dance partner!
Since joining the UFC in 2021, Rodrigues has collected a 7-2 record, and currently, heās riding the best streak of his short UFC tenure with three straight wins, including two stoppages.
Speaking of stoppages, this man has finished 14 of his 16 pro-MMA wins by knockout or submission, so you can expect him to meet his foe in the middle and fight to the death!
With Cannonier fighting to keep his middleweight ranking and Rodrigues fighting to enter the top 10, coupled with the fact both men are savage hitters, I have no doubt the UFC Vegas 102 main event will deliver. However, Iād be very cautious picking a side when evaluating the UFC betting odds.
Five UFC finishes and he’s hungry for more š®āšØ@Gregory_MMA is back Saturday in the #UFCVegas102 main event! pic.twitter.com/m2WYsN7r96
ā UFC (@ufc) February 11, 2025
Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal
Much like the main event, Saturdayās co-main event involves a veteran player, Calvin Kattar, defending his ranking position versus a surging contender, Youssef Zalal, in a fight that is worthy of the main card pay-per-view position without question.
Iām actually surprised Dana White and Co. didnāt save this banger for a PPV card, but here we are, the #10-ranked Kattar hopes to snap an ugly three-fight losing skid versus a rising star in Zalal whoās blasted through three opponents since returning to the promotion in 2024.
ENDING FIGHTS EARLY WITH THE ELBOW š®āšØ@CalvinKattar wants to achieve another knockout on Saturday š
[ #UFCVegas102 | 7pmET on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/rKSTmExfuzā UFC (@ufc) February 11, 2025
Kattar was once referred to as the ābest pure boxer in MMA,ā and while his striking has seen him collect 10 knockouts and decision wins throughout his professional journey, heās never surrendered three straight losses up until now. He wonāt just be fighting for a win in Vegas but to prove heās still got it!
That is easier said than done, however. Especially when Zalal, a well-rounded martial artist, has displayed some beautiful groundwork lately (Four consecutive wins by submission). If thereās one area Kattar falters, it would be on the mat, and we could very well be looking at a new top-10 featherweight come Sunday morning.
He was just getting started š®āšØ
Could @MoroccanDevil45 get his fourth-straight submission victory at #UFCVegas102? pic.twitter.com/8RhSbmZrW5
ā UFC (@ufc) February 12, 2025
The Bonfim Brothers
Brothers fighting is nothing new; I regularly spectate my two kids going at each other’s throats. However, for Gabriel and Ismael Bonfim, theyāll fight side by side again at the same event, as we get to witness a pair of ruthless Brazilian siblings that equally love to finish their food before leaving the cage.
For Gabriel Bonfim, heās in a preliminary card spotlight position versus Khaos Williams, looking to extend his 3-1 promotional record. Williams has an impressive 6-2 record behind a 67% KO rate, so heāll definitely be head-hunting. Although, heās never faced a grappler with the skills of Gabriel, whoās not only finished 15 of his 16 wins inside the distance but has done so with 12 submissions!
The Bonfim brothers are BACK! š
Watch Ismael Bonfim and Gabriel Bonfim this Saturday at #UFCVegas102 pic.twitter.com/UuDZPaZcdD
ā UFC (@ufc) February 10, 2025
Up on the main card, Ismael, who made an emphatic UFC debut when he knocked out Terrance McKinney with a flying knee, will meet Nazim Sadykhov, who hasnāt fought since 2023. Unlike his brother, Ismael often prefers to use his hands, and it wouldnāt be surprising to see him get loose with those fists to put on an unforgettable fight.
Left hook off the inside slip by Ismael Bonfim. pic.twitter.com/kZD9QMHekJ
ā FeƱo š“ (@fenoxsky) February 11, 2025
Jose Delgado Is a Problem!
With five straight wins and a 100% finish rate from eight pro-MMA victories, and with the masterminds at MMA Lab behind him, Jose Delgado makes his highly anticipated UFC debut this weekend.
Iāll say this: you shouldnāt be shocked if he obliterates the opposition to deliver a statement maiden performance because heās looked highly impressive during his road to the big leagues.
Excited for the debut of Jose Delgado this weekend.
The 26 y/o prospect took his DWCS fight on 11 days notice, winning in impressive fashion.
Heās currently on a 5 fight finish streak (3 KOs & 2 Subs) & sitting at -290 vs Matthews at #UFCVegas102 pic.twitter.com/sgWJq1S1Ow
ā I AM SATURDAY (@I_AM_SATURDAY) February 11, 2025
The 26-year-old newcomer faces a fellow Dana White Contender Series alumni, Connor Matthews. Still, the hype is all behind Delgado, as heās likely to provide another highlight-reel victory for UFC rumors and keep that 100 %-stoppage rate intact.
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