The UFC Fight Night 251 delivered plenty of action across all weight divisions!
UFC fight nights always deliver a mix of thrilling finishes, technical showcases, and occasional surprises. Last night’s event, the UFC Fight Night 251 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas was no exception, giving fans plenty to talk about.
The intimate venue has become a staple for these Fight Night cards since the pandemic, offering a different feel than the big arena shows. With twelve bouts on the card featuring everything from promising newcomers to established veterans, the night delivered plenty of action across all weight divisions.
The headline bout saw former middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier face off against the surging Gregory Rodrigues in a classic veteran-versus-prospect matchup. The fight started with Rodrigues showing his power, even dropping Cannonier with punches in the opening round. But as they say in fighting, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
Cannonier weathered the early storm and slowly turned the tide, using his veteran savvy and conditioning to take control. The second and third rounds showed Cannonier’s superior experience as he kept a steady pace. Then came the dramatic finish in the fourth round, when Cannonier clipped Rodrigues with punches that sent him crashing to the canvas.
WHAT A PERFORMANCE FROM JARED CANNONIER 🤯
— UFC (@ufc) February 16, 2025
He gets the TKO victory in the #UFCVegas102 main event! pic.twitter.com/EKWMpHiNCw
The referee Herb Dean jumped in to stop the fight just 21 seconds into the round, giving Cannonier an impressive comeback TKO victory. This win puts ‘The Killa Gorilla’ back in the win column after his recent struggles and shows he is still a force in the division.
In the co-main, Youssef Zalal picked up the biggest win of his career by defeating veteran Calvin Kattar via unanimous decision. Zalal’s movement proved too much for Kattar to handle, especially in the first two rounds. Though Kattar made a push in the final frame, it wasn’t enough to overcome the early deficit on the scorecards. All three judges scored it 29-28 for Zalal, who has now won four straight since returning to the UFC.
Win streak extended to 4 🔥@MoroccanDevil45 is leaving #UFCVegas102 with the unanimous decision victory! pic.twitter.com/2D8XNdXewU
— UFC (@ufc) February 16, 2025
The rest of the main card delivered a mix of fast finishes and tactical contests. Edmen Shahbazyan made quick work of Dylan Budka with a devastating right hand that led to a first-round TKO in just 1:35 (95 seconds).
Statement made ✅@EdmenShahbazyan gets the impressive first round finish at #UFCVegas102! pic.twitter.com/Lm39KYvpmV
— UFC (@ufc) February 16, 2025
Nazim Sadykhov remained unbeaten in the UFC when his fight with Ismael Bonfim ended via doctor’s stoppage after the first round due to a cut under Bonfim’s eye. Andre Petroski showed off his wrestling defense in a unanimous decision win over Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Rodolfo Vieira, with all three judges scoring it 29-28 in his favor.
This fight has been ended due to doctor stoppage.
— UFC (@ufc) February 16, 2025
Nazim Sadykhov is leaving #UFCVegas102 with the victory! pic.twitter.com/MpgIvioobz
The prelims featured several standout performances. This started with Jose Delgado’s highlight-reel knockout of Connor Matthews at 2:58 of the first round. In a surprising split decision, Angela Hill edged out Ketlen Souza, with two judges seeing it 29-28 for Hill while one had it the same score for Souza.
Allow me to introduce myself 😮💨
— UFC (@ufc) February 16, 2025
Jose Delgado gets the finish in his UFC debut! #UFCVegas102 pic.twitter.com/3liFCDLCLT
Undefeated Rafael Estevam kept his perfect record intact with a unanimous decision over Jesus Aguilar. Gabriel Bonfim provided one of the night’s most dramatic moments. He choked Kallin Williams unconscious with a D’Arce choke with just two seconds left in the second round.
He wasted no time tonight 😮💨
— UFC (@ufc) February 15, 2025
Valter Walker gets the heel hook submission in round one #UFCVegas102 pic.twitter.com/JNMEJtKOUr
Debuting fighter Elijah Smith impressed with a clean sweep on the scorecards against Vince Morales. Valter Walker continued to show his submission prowess. He caught Don’Tale Mayes in a lightning-quick heel hook just 1:17 into their heavyweight clash. The night kicked off with Jacqueline Cavalcanti dominating Julia Avila for three rounds to earn a clear-cut unanimous decision.
Two DOMINANT performances 💥@EdmenShahbazyan & Gabriel Bonfim take home tonight's POTN bonuses! #UFCVegas102 pic.twitter.com/W9tHovooZG
— UFC (@ufc) February 16, 2025
Edmen Shahbazyan and Gabriel Bonfim both received the Performance of the Night bonus for their fights. The Fight of the Night bonus went to Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues. All these fighters earned an extra $50,000.
(Image Credit: UFC – X)
mma I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!
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