Cannonier v Rodrigues UFC preview & top betting picks

Veteran middleweight contender Jared Cannonier will be out to prove he is still relevant when he faces dangerous striker Gregory Rodrigues for the UFC Fight Night main event at the Apex in Las Vegas this Saturday night. Read on for our full fight preview and free betting predictions.


Cannonier v Rodrigues UFC Fight Night main event preview

Jared Cannonier (17-8-0) has struggled for consistency in recent years, producing four wins and four losses since 2020. In fairness, the 40-year-old has taken on the cream of the middleweight crop during this period; while he lost to former champions Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker, he prevailed over big names in Marvin Vettori and Sean Strickland. Cannonier is, however, coming off successive defeats and enters this contest as a betting outsider with leading UFC bookmakers.

Cannonier has proved to be a durable athlete throughout his long career, but questions must be raised about his ability to stand and trade with younger and fresher opponents. The American still possesses knockout power, but he only holds a 50-50 win rate with the judges. He will find a willing dance partner in this contest, and if history is any guide, fans can expect an explosive opening round.

Gregory Rodrigues (16-5-0) brings strong winning form into this bout, albeit against mid-level opposition. The Brazilian has defeated Christian Leroy Dunkin, Brad Tavares, and Denis Tiuliulin since 2023 as he works toward a top-10 ranking at 185 pounds. The 32-year-old is a fearsome sight in the octagon, walking forward while unleashing heavy punches and elbows in lengthy combinations, and boasts 10 knockout finishes on his professional record.

The downside to this approach is that Rodrigues is often there to be countered and normally wears early damage in his fights. He has been knocked out on three occasions, most recently in January 2023 when felled by Brunno Ferreira. Rodrigues is not the most agile athlete, but if he can dominate the opening exchanges, he will be hoping to finish the job early and move toward another big-name opponent.

Cannonier v Rodrigues UFC Fight Night predictions

Based on recent form and Cannonier’s aging body, Rodrigues looks a worthy favourite with top UFC betting sites. It must be noted, however, that he has no experience in five-round fights and may run out of steam if the contest progresses beyond the 15-minute mark. If he can hold the centre of the ring and establish an advantageous range, we expect Rodrigues to find a home for some of his brutal strikes and add another stoppage win to his growing CV.