The UFC is again in its Las Vegas house base for 3 of its subsequent 4 occasions, and this week middleweights are on the prime of the invoice.
Right here’s tips on how to watch UFC Combat Evening 251 with 185-pounders within the headlining spot, plus a possible featherweight banger within the co-feature.
Broadcast and streaming information
UFC Combat Evening 251 has a important card that begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+
Keep tuned for extra broadcast particulars later this week.
Primary occasion: Jared Cannonier
Document: 17-8 MMA, 10-8 UFC
Opponent: Gregory Rodrigues (16-5 MMA, 7-2 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Key wins: Marvin Vettori, Sean Strickland, Derek Brunson, Kelvin Gastelum, Jack Hermansson, Anderson Silva
Misc.: Cannonier is in a important occasion for a fairly spectacular seventh time in eight occasions. Since a title battle loss to then-champ Israel Adesanya in mid-2022, he’s 2-2 – however the losses have been consecutive to Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho, which knocked him again into the remainder of the pack within the title image.
Jared Cannonier
Primary occasion: Gregory Rodrigues
Document: 16-5 MMA, 7-2 UFC
Opponent: Jared Cannonier (17-8 MMA, 10-8 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Key wins: Brad Tavares, Chidi Njokuani, Julian Marquez
Misc.: With three straight wins, Rodrigues could be making his transfer – and a win over Cannonier can be by far the most important notch on his belt but.
Combined Martial Arts – UFC 304 – Manchester – Co-op Reside, Manchester, Britain – July 28, 2024. Christian Leroy Duncan and Gregory Rodrigues look on after their battle throughout UFC 304. REUTERS/John Sibley
Co-main occasion: Calvin Kattar
Document: 23-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC
Opponent: Youssef Zalal (16-5-1 MMA, 6-3-1 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Key wins: Giga Chikadze, Dan Ige, Jeremy Stephens, Ricardo Lamas, Andre Fili
Misc.: Astute MMA observers look previous Kattar’s middling 7-6 UFC document to see that his losses have actually solely been to the elite of the division, and the one a type of six setbacks that was a stoppage was as a result of he blew his knee out in opposition to Arnold Allen. The opposite losses are a part of a homicide’s row: Ex-champs Max Holloway and Aljamain Sterling, Josh Emmett, Zabit Magomedsharipov and Renato Moicano.
Co-main occasion: Youssef Zalal
Document: 16-5-1 MMA, 6-3-1 UFC
Opponent: Calvin Kattar (23-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Key wins: Jack Shore, Billy Quarantillo
Misc.: Zalal is a heavy favourite for the third straight battle, and within the first two, he walked away with post-fight bonuses. Lengthy within the rearview mirror is the 0-3-1 skid that began with a choice loss to present champ Ilia Topuria. That skid acquired him booted from the UFC, however he’s on a six-fight run now with six stoppages – together with three chokes within the three UFC fights since he made it again.
Nov 2, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Youssef Zalal (blue gloves) celebrates after defeating Jack Shore (purple gloves) in a featherweight bout throughout UFC Combat Evening at Rogers Place. Necessary Credit score: Perry Nelson-Imagn Pictures
UFC debut: Jose Delgado
Document: 8-1
Opponent: Connor Matthews (7-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Misc.: Arizona-based 26-year-old has all eight of his wins by stoppage, together with 5 straight. A knee knockout on DWCS put him on the quick monitor to the UFC.
UFC debut: Elijah Smith
Document: 7-1
Opponent: Vince Morales (16-8 MMA, 3-6 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Misc.: 22-year-old prospect acquired his UFC shot with a win over the beforehand unbeaten Aaron Tau on DWCS this previous September.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 17: Elijah Smith reacts after his victory in opposition to Aaron Tau of New Zealand throughout Dana White’s Contender Sequence Season Eight, Week Six at UFC APEX on September 17, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
UFC Combat Evening 251 important card betting odds
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
- Jared Cannonier +170 vs. Gregory Rodrigues -205
- Calvin Kattar +310 vs. Youssef Zalal -395
- Dylan Budka +250 vs. Edmen Shahbazyan -310
- Ismael Bonfim -160 vs. Nazim Sadykhov +135
- Andre Petroski +180 vs. Rodolfo Vieira -220
- Jose Delgado -230 vs. Connor Matthews +190
UFC Combat Evening 251 prelim betting odds
Julia Avila
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)
- Angela Hill -125 vs. Ketlen Souza +105
- Kaue Fernandes +150 vs. Jared Gordon -180
- Jesus Aguilar +285 vs. Rafael Estevam -360
- Gabriel Bonfim -220 vs. Khaos Williams +180
- Vince Morales +195 vs. Elijah Smith -240
- Don’Story Mayes +165 vs. Valter Walker -200
- Julia Avila +340 vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti -440
UFC Combat Evening 251 preview movies
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