A night of thrilling competition is on the cards and, UFC Vegas 102 is set to take place on February 15, 2025. The UFC Apex is an arena well-acclaimed for hosting great bouts in mixed martial arts which will host the Fight Night. The fight card features a combination of experienced fighters and a mix of rising stars, promising action-packed fun for fight fans.
Fans will be watching live on ESPN+, with prelims at 4:00 p.m. ET and the main card at 7:00 p.m. ET on February 15th.
This event promises not just high-stakes matchups but also a showcase for some of the sport’s most skilled fighters looking out for glory in one of its most prestigious promotions.
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UFC Vegas 102 Main Event: Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues
Headlining UFC Vegas 102 will be a middleweight clash between ex-title challenger Jared Cannonier and the rising Gregory Rodrigues. Cannonier will be desperate to avoid the horrible first three-fight losing streak of his career. He has had a phenomenal journey through different weight classes from when he joined the UFC in January 2015. Initially a heavyweight, he transitioned to light heavyweight until finally settling into the middleweight division in November 2018.
Cannonier has seen significant wins in this weight class as a middleweight, with four knockouts among his five victories in this division. His only loss in middleweight was against the former champion Robert Whittaker, whom he lost by a razor-thin decision back in 2020. Since his title shot against Israel Adesanya in July 2022, which ended with a difficult decision loss, he has struggled in his last two fights, falling to Nassourdine Imavov and then to Caio Borralho.
In the opposite corner of the octagon stands Gregory Rodrigues, a man with a record of 16 wins and 5 losses. Rodrigues is hoping to use the Cannonier fight to break into the higher realms of the middleweight division. He arrived in the UFC through winning the LFA middleweight title and had a great debut going with two victories until he faced setbacks against Arman Petrosyan and Brunno Ferreira.
Rodrigues rebounded from the knockout loss to Ferreira by winning three on the trot, displaying impressive striking with stoppages over Denis Tiuliulin and Brad Tavares and bested Christian Leroy Duncan in a decision. This clash presents the two with an opportunity: Cannonier looking for redemption and Rodrigues striving to secure his standing as a contender.
Co-Main Event: Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal
In yet another much-anticipated matchup on the main card, Calvin Kattar and Youssef Zalal will take to the Octagon. Known for his formidable strike and durable nature, Kattar has built a tough reputation in his division. Having faced some of the toughest and best fighters in MMA, Kattar is looking for a way out of a rough patch and back in with the elite featherweights once again.
Zalal enters this fight hoping to create a statement and cement himself as a fearsome opponent in the featherweight division. The eclectic mix of skills makes him quite a dangerous proposition both standing or on the ground, creating an interesting dynamic for this matchup.
UFC Vegas 102: Main Card Complete Breakdown
Numerous battles with growing-edge appeal are set to go down on the main card that we are sure will be waged upon the fans’ expectations:
- Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Dylan Budka: Shahbazyan is known for his explosive fighting style and with tremendous knockout power.
- Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov: Both fighters want to climb up their own rankings.
- Rodolfo Vieira vs. Andre Petroski: A grappling-focused matchup that could boast high-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques.
- Connor Matthews vs. Jose Delgado: An intriguing clash between two fighters eventually willing to earn their stripes on this stage.
UFC Vegas 102: Preliminary Card Matchups
The preliminary card also offers great matchups that must face the final hour stamp of approval concerning the card’s finish:
- Angela Hill vs. Ketlen Souza: A battle between experienced strikers.
- Jared Gordon vs. Kauê Fernandes: Both fighters looking to cement crucial victories.
- Gabriel Bonfim vs. Khaos Williams: It might be fireworks just because of their ability to finish.
- Julia Avila vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti: A women’ bantamweight bout featuring rising stars.
UFC Fight Night 251 is just hours away and the match-ups looks exciting with young talent set to feature on the night. Stay tuned to watch the live action.
Anushka Sarkar 
Sachin Singh