UFC Vegas 102 lived up to the hype. The prospects showed out and the veterans made every moment count. While some fans are disappointed with the conclusion of the Youssef Zalal and Calvin Kattar main event, the skill level was obvious. Zalal used his footwork to avoid the dangerous slugfest, while Kattar weathered the storm and started putting it together in the third round.
There’s an argument for co-main events to be five rounds. They’re usually ranking-dependent fights or have title implications. With five-round main events, higher-level fighters should have the chance to win in championship rounds. With a win, those fighters are usually lined up for a main event, and it makes sense to give them a chance to see what five rounds feel like at the highest level.
Outside of some questionable moments, judges and all, UFC Vegas 102 delivered. What’s next for the big winners and losers? Here’s how it should break down in the coming months.
Winners
Jared Cannonier: After weathering the storm, Cannonier proved to be the most elite fighter at 40 years old. He took big blows early but found ways to land on the body and came out with a finish. With Brendan Allen and Anthony Hernandez set to battle next week, it makes sense to pit winner against winner to move up the middleweight ranks.
Youssef Zalal: While some fans are unhappy with his performance, you can’t knock a fighter for avoiding the big shots when his opponent is getting desperate. With Lerone Murphy and Josh Emmett set to battle, Arnold Allen makes a lot of sense here.
Edmen Shahbazyan: The UFC allowed Shahbazyan to shine on the main card and he didn’t disappoint. He was clean with his strikes and waited for his moment. He fought a lot of great fighters early in his career but he could be hitting his prime now. Andre Petroski makes a lot of sense coming off the Rodolfo Vieira win.
Nazim Sadykhov: If you’ve never seen switch kick before, Sadykhov delivered a textbook version and ended the fight. Ismael Bonfim was unable to continue after the first round. Sadykhov has been proving the doubters wrong. A veteran test like Thiago Moises could be a solid opportunity for both fighters.
Andre Petroski: Everyone believed Vieira would land a submission in the first or second round but Petroski had different plans. After weathering a storm of takedowns and combos, Petroski looked like the better fighter for most of the fight and came away with a one-sided decision. As mentioned, Shahbazyan makes a lot of sense with both guys looking to take the next steps in their UFC careers.
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Losers
Gregory Rodrigues: Rodrigues took the toughest fight of his career and made it look easy for two rounds. As any Cannonier backer would argue, cardio was the big question and proved to be an issue. Roman Kopylov against Rodrigues would be fun.
Calvin Kattar: Kattar waited too long to press forward and dropped the first two rounds pretty easily. He’s used to fighting five rounds, so maybe the slow starter is built in, but he needs to have a sense of urgency much sooner. Bryce Mitchell might be the best option here after he was gifted Kron Gracie last time.
Ismael Bonfim: Given the injury he suffered, it could be some time till we see him back in the cage. The good news is he avoided serious damage. If both guys are ready later in the year, a showdown between Bonfim and Mike Davis would be action-packed with great skill on display.
Rodolfo Vieira: Vieira looked great at UFC Vegas 102 but Petroski’s overall skill level prevented him from finding success. His cardio looked much better and the boxing was working, but without volume or any takedowns, it’s hard to see Vieira at his best. Gerald Meerschaert would be a solid grappling battle.
UFC Vegas 102 did not disappoint. Seeing veterans like Cannonier succeed always has a feel-good moment attached, and Zalal is a true contender who will continue to get tough tests to prove his worth.
With several prospects performing well on the card, the UFC has options in the coming months. Keep it locked to SlotsFighter.com for your UFC analysis, breakdowns, and best bets.
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