UFC middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier is set to face rising contender Gregory Rodrigues in the main event of UFC Fight Night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night. This fight marks a significant turning point for Cannonier, who has struggled with a two-fight losing streak.
Cannonier, currently ranked No. 9 by ESPN, challenged then-champion Israel Adesanya for the belt at UFC 276 in July 2022 but failed to secure the win. He is now facing a tough opponent in Rodrigues, who enters the fight on a three-fight winning streak.
Analyst Din Thomas believes that Cannonier needs to use his counterpunching ability effectively if he wants to emerge victorious. “He’ll have to use that counterpunching ability in this fight,” Thomas said. “Rodrigues will take the fight to him.”
However, Rodrigues’s power and grappling skills pose significant threats to Cannonier’s chances of winning. If Rodrigues forces Cannonier to fight at a faster pace, he may make more mistakes.
Parker, an ESPN betting expert, predicts that Rodrigues will win by knockout or submission inside the distance. “Rodrigues is taking on his highest-ranked opponent in Cannonier,” Parker said. “He’s a world-class grappler with serious knockout power.”
The fight against Rodrigues presents a challenging test for Cannonier, who will need to demonstrate his skills and resilience if he wants to end his losing streak.
Additionally, experts predict wins for Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal, Rodolfo Vieira vs. Andre Petroski, and Angela Hill vs. Ketlen Souza in their respective bouts on the card.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mma/insider/story/_/id/43797003/ufc-fight-night-expert-picks-best-bets-jared-cannonier-vs-gregory-rodrigues