UFC Fight Night 251: How to watch Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues, start time, Las Vegas fight card, odds, more
The UFC is back in its Las Vegas home base for three of its next four events, and this week middleweights are at the top of the bill.
Here’s how to watch UFC Fight Night 251 with 185-pounders in the headlining spot, plus a potential featherweight banger in the co-feature.
Broadcast and streaming info
UFC Fight Night 251 has a main card that starts at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+</a. The preliminary card streams on ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET.
Stay tuned for more broadcast details later this week.
Main event: Jared Cannonier
Record: 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 main event for a reasonably impressive seventh time in eight events. Since a title fight loss to then-champ Israel Adesanya in mid-2022, he’s 2-2 – but the losses have been consecutive to Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho, which knocked him back into the rest of the pack in the title picture.
Jared Cannonier
Main event: Gregory Rodrigues
Record: 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 might be making his move – and a win over Cannonier would be by far the biggest notch on his belt yet.
Mixed Martial Arts – UFC 304 – Manchester – Co-op Live, Manchester, Britain – July 28, 2024. Christian Leroy Duncan and Gregory Rodrigues look on after their fight during UFC 304. REUTERS/John Sibley
Co-main event: Calvin Kattar
Record: 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 past Kattar’s middling 7-6 UFC record to see that his losses have really only been to the elite of the division, and the only one of those six setbacks that was a stoppage was because he blew his knee out against Arnold Allen. The other losses are part of a murder’s row: Ex-champs Max Holloway and Aljamain Sterling, Josh Emmett, Zabit Magomedsharipov and Renato Moicano.
Co-main event: Youssef Zalal
Record: 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 favorite for the third straight fight, and in the first two, he walked away with post-fight bonuses. Long in the rearview mirror is the 0-3-1 skid that started with a decision loss to current champ Ilia Topuria. That skid got him booted from the UFC, but he’s on a six-fight run now with six stoppages – including three chokes in the three UFC fights since he made it back.
Nov 2, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Youssef Zalal (blue gloves) celebrates after defeating Jack Shore (red gloves) in a featherweight bout during UFC Fight Night at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
UFC debut: Jose Delgado
Record: 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, including five straight. A knee knockout on DWCS put him on the fast track to the UFC.
UFC debut: Elijah Smith
Record: 7-1
Opponent: Vince Morales (16-8 MMA, 3-6 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Misc.: 22-year-old prospect got his UFC shot with a win over the previously unbeaten Aaron Tau on DWCS this past September.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 17: Elijah Smith reacts after his victory against Aaron Tau of New Zealand during Dana White’s Contender Series Season Eight, Week Six at UFC APEX on September 17, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
UFC Fight Night 251 main 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 Fight Night 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’Tale Mayes +165 vs. Valter Walker -200
- Julia Avila +340 vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti -440