UFC Vegas 102 Outcomes: Bonus Recipients and Key Moments
On the UFC Apex's Saturday event, Jared "The Killer" Cannonier, aged 40, showcased an unforgettable performance against the rising star, Gregory "Robocop" Rodrigues. Cannonier entered as an underdog, ranked No. 7, while Rodrigues aimed for a place in the UFC's middleweight division.
The fight began with Rodrigues dropping Cannonier twice in the first round. However, the seasoned fighter battled back, regaining control in the second frame. Rodrigues displayed a late surge in the third, but Cannonier seized the momentum with a crushing elbow, putting Rodrigues down.
The Brazilian warrior managed to complete the round, but Cannonier didn't falter, forcing the referee to halt the bout in round four due to Rodrigues' inability to continue. Cannonier's stunning KO marked an end to his two-fight losing streak, while Rodrigues' three-fight winning streak met an abrupt halt (Source: MMA Junkie).
In the co-main event, Youssef Zalal kept his momentum going after a victorious return to the UFC. Zalal outmaneuvered Calvin Kattar, landing superb strikes, in their dance on the octagon. Despite fading slightly at the end of the third round, Zalal's unanimous decision win pushed him into the UFC's top 15.
Meanwhile, Kattar suffered his fourth straight defeat. Edmen Shahbazyan got his act together in the main card, bouncing back from a two-fight skid with a thunderous KO. Meanwhile, Dylan Budka continued his downward spiral, losing his third fight in a row.
The night also saw Nazim Sadykhov deliver a second-round TKO on Ismael Bonfim, andre Petroksi taking a unanimous decision win over Rodolfo Vieira. In the prelims, numerous highlight-reel finishes showcased rising stars like Jose Delgado, Gabriel Bonfim, and Valter Walker, while Jacqueline Cavalcanti snatched a decisive unanimous decision victory across three rounds.
Sources:1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Cannonier2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Rodrigues_(fighter)3. https://www.mmajunkie.com/events/305829/ufc-vegas-1024. https://www.ufc.com/fighter/jared-cannonier5. https://www.betway.com/esports/ufc/odds/cannonier-vs-rodrigues
- The UFC knockouts segment on UFC Tonight this week will undoubtedly feature Jared Cannonier's impressive KO of Gregory Rodrigues at UFC Vegas 102.
- Fans eager to rewatch the UFC results from UFC Vegas 102 can find Jared Cannonier's knockout victory over Rodrigues in the highlights section.
- Looking ahead to 2024, experts predict that Jared Cannonier could potentially leapfrog to a higher ranking in the UFC's middleweight division given his recent dominance.
- UFC 28x3, scheduled for an unspecified date in the future, might see Jared Cannonier face off against a formidable opponent like Paulo Costa or Anderson Silva, offering fans an exciting undercard matchup.
- Post-UFC Vegas 102, Jared Cannonier's stock in the UFC has significantly risen, leading some analysts to compare him favorably to a de-aged Lyoto Machida or even Chris Weidman.
- Despite the stunning KO loss, many UFC pundits are still bullish on Rodrigues' potential, citing his youth and immense striking prowess as indicators of a promising future in the promotion.
