UFC Fight Night 251 predictions: Do we like Jared Cannonier or Gregory Rodrigues in Vegas?
The UFC is back on its home turf this week with a former middleweight title challenger at the top of the lineup.
UFC Fight Night 251 (ESPN+) takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Get pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.
Records: Petroski (12-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC), Vieira (10-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC)
Past five: Petroski 3-2, Vieira 4-1
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 02.15.25): Petroski +225, Vieira -280
Junkie pick results: Petroski 7, Vieira 4
Records: Bonfim (20-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Sadykhov (9-1-1 MMA, 2-0-1 UFC)
Past five: Bonfim 4-1, Sadykhov 4-0-1
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 02.15.25): Bonfim -160, Sadykhov +135
Junkie pick results: Bonfim 8, Sadykhov 3
Records: Budka (7-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC), Shahbazyan (13-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC)
Past five: Budka 2-3, Shahbazyan 2-3
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 02.15.25): Budka +250, Shahbazyan -310
Junkie pick results: Shahbazyan 11, Budka 0
Records: Kattar (23-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC), Zalal (16-5-1 MMA, 6-3-1 UFC)
Past five: Kattar 1-4, Zalal 5-0
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: Kattar No. 14
Odds (as of 02.15.25): Kattar +310, Zalal -395
Junkie pick results: Zalal 7, Kattar 4
Records: Cannonier (17-8 MMA, 10-8 UFC), Rodrigues (16-5 MMA, 7-2 UFC)
Past five: Cannonier 2-3, Rodrigues 4-1
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: Cannonier No. 9, Rodrigues No. 12
Odds (as of 02.15.25): Cannonier +170, Rodrigues -205
Junkie pick results: Rodrigues 7, Cannonier 4
Although they don't count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:
Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews: Delgado 11, Matthews 0
Angela Hill vs. Ketlen Souza: Hill 8, Souza 3
Jesus Aguilar vs. Rafael Estevam: Estevam 7, Aguilar 4
Gabriel Bonfim vs. Khaos Williams: Bonfim 7, Williams a4
Vince Morales vs. Elijah Smith: Smith 10, Morales 1
Don'Tale Mayes vs. Valter Walker: Walker 11, Mayes 0
Julia Avila vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti: Cavalcanti 11, Avila 0
Check out all the main card picks below.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
Cannonier
vs.
Rodrigues
Kattar
vs.
Zalal
Budka
vs.
Shahbazyan
I. Bonfim
vs.
Sadykhov
Petroski
vs.
Vieira
MMA Junkie readers'
consensus picks
13-7
Rodrigues
(60%)
Zalal
(59%)
Shahbazyan
(85%)
I. Bonfim
(63%)
Vieira
(71%)
Matt Erickson
@MattE
13-7
Rodrigues
Zalal
Shahbazyan
I. Bonfim
Petroski
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
13-7
Rodrigues
Kattar
Shahbazyan
I. Bonfim
Vieira
Ken Hathaway
@1khathaway
12-8
2017, 2022, 2024 Champion
Cannonier
Zalal
Shahbazyan
I. Bonfim
Vieira
Nolan King
@mma_kings
12-8
2023 Champion
Cannonier
Kattar
Shahbazyan
Sadykhov
Petroski
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
11-9
Rodrigues
Zalal
Shahbazyan
I. Bonfim
Petroski
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
11-9
2024 Champion
Cannonier
Zalal
Shahbazyan
Sadykhov
Petroski
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
11-9
2017 Champion
Cannonier
Kattar
Shahbazyan
I. Bonfim
Petroski
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
10-10
Rodrigues
Kattar
Shahbazyan
Sadykhov
Petroski
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
9-11
2014 Champion
Rodrigues
Zalal
Shahbazyan
I. Bonfim
Vieira
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
9-11
Rodrigues
Zalal
Shahbazyan
I. Bonfim
Vieira
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
8-12
Rodrigues
Zalal
Shahbazyan
I. Bonfim
Petroski
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 251.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Fight Night 251 predictions: Do we like Jared Cannonier or Gregory Rodrigues in Vegas?
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