UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs Rodrigues betting tips | Feb 16

Veteran featherweight Calvin Kattar will face a rejuvenated Youseff Zalal for the UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs Rodrigues co-main event at the Apex Arena in Las Vegas this Saturday night. Other main card highlights include a lightweight bout between Ismael Bonfim and Nazim Sadykhov and a compelling middleweight matchup between Rodolfo Vieira and Andre Petroski. Read on for BettingSite’s fight previews and top tips.

Jared Cannonier vs Gregory Rodrigues

Jared Cannonier vs Gregory Rodrigues

The main event for UFC Fight Night pits long-time middleweight contender Jared Cannonier against the hard-hitting Gregory Rodrigues with a top-10 ranking on the line. Both men like to throw heavy leather, and this contest should produce fireworks from the opening bell. See our Cannonier vs Rodrigues betting preview here.

Calvin Kattar vs Youssef Zalal

Calvin Kattar vs Youssef Zalal

Calvin Kattar (23-8-0) desperately needs a win heading into this bout having dropped three of his last four fights. The 36-year-old has been matched against elite competition during this rough spell including Max Holloway, Josh Emmett, and Aljamain Sterling, but the ‘Boston Finisher’ has not finished an opponent since 2020, some eight fights ago. Kattar’s poor results have predominantly come via the scorecards, and he must lift output and volume to ensure the ringside judges rule in his favour.

Youssef Zalal (16-5-1) was cut from the UFC roster in 2022 after a series of disappointing efforts but secured a recall to the premier promotion in March 2024 and quickly rattled off three straight submission victories to earn this co-main event booking. The 28-year-old has stopped his last six opponents inside the distance and is a heavy favourite with online bookies to keep this streak alive. The Moroccan is fighting with an urgency that was missing during his first UFC stint and looks a tough proposition for any active featherweight.

Edmen Shahbazyan vs Dylan Budka

Edmen Shahbazyan vs Dylan Budka

Edmen Shahbazyan (13-5-0) was once considered a potential future UFC champion but the 27-year-old has fallen on hard times since a series of devastating losses starting in 2020. The American still possesses damaging offensive weapons but lacks the strategic nous and fight IQ to adapt to threats in real-time. Shahbazyan has been matched very favourably with a UFC newcomer here in the hope that he can recapture some of his early form that had him marked as an exciting prospect in the middleweight division.

Dylan Budka (7-4-0) made his UFC debut in 2024 after producing an eye-catching performance on Dana White’s Contender Series. The 25-year-old has since been beaten twice while adjusting to the lift in competition. Budka still has plenty of upside if he can improve his defence and capitalise on some natural athletic abilities. Betting markets are predicting a tough night for the youngster in Las Vegas, but he may emerge with improved confidence if he can hang with a much more experienced opponent across three rounds.

Ismael Bonfim vs Nazim Sadykhov

Ismael Bonfim vs Nazim Sadykhov

Ismael Bonfim (12-4-1) has made a strong impression since debuting in 2023 with two wins and one loss to the highly touted Benoit Saint-Denis. The 29-year-old is a well-rounded MMA practitioner with nine professional wins coming knockout, four coming via submission, and seven arriving by the judges’ scorecard. The Brazilian can be a little reckless on some of his approaches while closing the distance but is still improving and can be expected to deliver another bold showing in this competitive matchup.

Nazim Sadykhov (12-2-0) has also fought thrice at UFC level, recording two wins and a draw against moderate but improving opposition. The Russian should enjoy a slight power advantage here and looks a like solid betting proposition at nice odds. The 30-year-old should not be outgunned on the mat and appears more likely to end this bout inside the distance if he can impose his game plan and slip into a close range where his looping punches can land.

Rodolfo Vieira vs Andre Petroski

Rodolfo Vieira vs Andre Petroski

Rodolfo Vieira (10-2-0) brings strong recent form into the matchup with three wins and one loss from his last four UFC appearances. The Brazilian grappling specialist boasts nine professional wins via submission with just a single knockout on his record. The 35-year-old is blessed with a vice-like grip that can force even the hardest opponent to tap but can look much less effective during the standup portions of his bouts.

Andre Petroski (12-2-0) is on a two-fight win streak with decision victories over Dylan Budka and Josh Fremd. The 33-year-old has never been submitted during his 14-fight career, a clean sheet that may be tested here. Petroski is no slouch in the BJJ department, training with the legendary Renzo Gracie Academy in Philadelphia, but might be wise to avoid rolling on the mat with this opponent for long periods of this matchup.

Connor Matthews vs Jose Delgado

Connor Matthews vs Jose Delgado

Connor Matthews (7-2-0) has fought once in the UFC, losing via third-round knockout to Dennis Buzukja in March 2024. The 32-year-old is a gifted athlete with the ability to throw strikes from a variety of angles. He combines a strong kickboxing base with BJJ but can leave himself exposed to counter shots when backing away from standup exchanges. Any such lapses may prove costly, and Matthews will need to prove an elusive target if he hopes to bounce back to winning form here.

Jose Delgado (8-1-0) makes his UFC debut in Las Vegas after scorching a strong path on the minor circuits that culminated with a second-round knockout win on Dana White’s Contender Series in August 2024. The 26-year-old entered that bout as a late replacement on just 11 days’ notice, securing the win with a vicious knee. Delgado looks an exciting prospect and has been installed as the short-priced favourite to kick off his UFC career with another impressive performance.

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