The UFC’s return to the Las Vegas Apex was nothing short of spectacular, with Jared Cannonier pulling off a stunning upset against Gregory ‘Robocop’ Rodrigues. Cannonier, ranked seventh in the middleweight division, was on the edge of a knockout in the first round but managed to turn the tables, ultimately taking down Rodrigues via TKO in the fourth round. The night fight award was well-deserved, given the intense action that unfolded. Rodrigues had come out strong, emptying a significant portion of his energy tank in the first minutes, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.
Despite suffering two knockdowns, Cannonier began the second round with a renewed sense of purpose, capitalizing on Rodrigues’ poor cardio management. As Rodrigues’ energy waned, Cannonier seized the opportunity to regain lost ground. The Brazilian fighter managed to connect some good combinations in the third round, causing damage to Cannonier, but an elbow strike at the end of the round marked the beginning of the end for Rodrigues. Cannonier sensed victory within his grasp and connected a solid combination to finish the fight via TKO at the start of the fourth round. At nearly 41 years old, ‘The Killa Gorilla’ continues to prove himself as one of the company’s most feared strikers.
Edmen Shahbazyan was another standout performer, taking home the prize for the best performance after his impressive KO of Dylan Budka in the first round. The former Ronda Rousey training partner has been working to regain his footing after a few years of not meeting expectations, which were initially high following his UFC debut at 21. Seven years later, ‘Golden Boy’ is looking to establish himself in a category filled with talent.
Zalal’s Winning Streak
Youssef Zalal has demonstrated that he’s one of the most in-form fighters at the moment. The Moroccan fighter seized the opportunity of a lifetime as he faced Calvin Kattar in the event’s co-main event. Although Kattar halted Zalal’s streak of six consecutive finishes, he ultimately succumbed to a unanimous decision, overwhelmed by Zalal’s speed and footwork. This marks the first time Ilyia Topuria has been contradicted in the UFC. By the time Kattar attempted to react, it was already too late.
Other notable performances included Valter Walker, who submitted Don’Tale Mayes, accumulating his second first-round finish in the heavyweight category. Nazim Sadykhov also had a spectacular moment, forcing doctors to stop his fight against Ismael Bonfim with an impressive question mark kick, signing off on the great moment of the night.
Full Results
– Jared Cannonier wins Gregory Rodrigues via TKO (fists) – Round 4, 0:21
– Youssef Zalal wins Calvin Kattar via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
– Edmen Shahbazyan wins Dylan Budka via TKO (fists) – Round 1, 1:35
– Nazim Sadykhov wins Ismael Bonfim via TKO (medical stop) – Round 1, 5:00
– Andre Petroski wins Rodolfo Vieira via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
– Jose Delgado wins Connor Matthews via KO (fists) – Round 1, 2:58
– Angela Hill wins Ketlen Souza via unanimous decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
– Fael Estevam wins Jesus Aguilar via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
– Gabriel Bonfim wins Khaos Williams via technical submission (D’Arce Choke) – Round 2, 4:58
– Elijah Smith wins Vince Morales via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
– Valter Walker wins Don’Tale Mayes via submission (Heel Hook) – Round 1, 1:17
– Jacqueline Cavalcanti wins Julia Avila via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)