UFC Fight Night cards tend to feature veteran campaigners going up against up and comers and the main events at UFC Fight Night 251 are certainly following this pattern.
Heading the UFC Fight Night 251 picks is a battle between veteran middleweight Jared Cannonier, 40, and rising title hopeful Gregory Rodrigues.
The co-main event at UFC Fight Night 251 is a featherweight clash. Longtime competitor Calvin Kattar looks to end an extended losing streak against talented Youssef Zalal, who’s trending toward a title shot.
Let’s look at the latest betting lines for these bouts. Remember, odds are always subject to change.
| UFC Fight Night 251 Odds | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jared Cannonier vs Gregory Rodrigues | Rodrigues | -183 | -180 | -185 |
| Calvin Kattar vs Youssef Zalal | Zalal | -420 | -405 | -390 |
In this article, SBS will be going over each fighter, offering a predicted winner in both matchups, and also providing some additional notes and information regarding UFC Fight Night 251 picks and UFC betting.
Fighter Spotlight: Jared Cannonier
The No. 7 contender in the middleweight rankings, Cannonier’s UFC resume reads like a who’s-who of the middleweight division. He lost a bid for the world title to Israel Adesanya. Cannonier (17-8) has shared the octagon facing the likes of Sean Strickland, Robert Whittaker, Kevin Gastelum, Derek Brunson and Anderson Silva.
Still, time waits for no man and lately, Cannonier’s fight card is one of failure. He’s lost his last two bouts and is 2-3 over his past five fights. Since opening his MMA career 9-1, Cannonier has gone 8-7.
Fighter Spotlight: Gregory Rodrigues
Rodrigues (16-5) is formerly the middleweight champion of Smash Global MMA Middleweight Champion and Legacy Fight Association (LFA). Since joining the UFC in 2021, he’s gone 7-2.
The Brazilian fighter has won 10 of his 16 victories via knockout. He comes into this bout riding a three-fight win streak. Rodrigues is looking at this fight as a chance to establish himself in the middleweight contender rankings and begin his move toward a title shot.
Prediction: Cannonier does pack a punch and that always makes him a dangerous opponent. His last two fights, though both losses, each earned fight of the night recognition. Still, they were losses and Cannonier isn’t getting any younger.
This fight sets up well for Rodrigues as a stepping stone. He’s had seven months out of the octagon, so will be well-rested. At 32, he’s eight years Cannonier’s junior. Take Rodriques to win in the UFC Fight Night picks.
Fighter Spotlight: Calvin Kattar
The 10th-rated contender in the UFC featherweight rankings, give Kattar credit for one thing. He never ducks a fight. However, he might be in better standing were he to learn to duck more in the cage. Kattar has lost three fights in a row.
Granted, those three bouts were all against top featherweight contenders – Aljamain Sterling (No. 9), Arnold Allen (No. 7) and Josh Emmett (No. 8). In the end, though, a loss in a loss. Kattar (23-8) is winless since 2022 and is 1-4 over his past five bouts.
Fighter Spotlight: Youssef Zalal
Moroccan Zalal, 28, appears to be in the prime of his fighting career. He’s seeking to make the most of his second chance with UFC. Zalal has won six bouts in a row and is unbeaten since 2021.
Originally, signed by the promotion in 2020, Zalal was released two years later after going 2-3-1 through six UFC bouts. He was re-signed in 2024 after winning three straight fights in the Sparta Combat League by knockout or submission. In his UFC return, Zalal has won three straight – all by submission and all within two rounds.
Prediction: He might not get the attention of some of UFC’s big-name stars, but Youssef is an absolute submission machine. None of his past six bouts have gone beyond the second round. Go with Youssef to make short work of Kattar on UFC Fight Night.
Once you have settled on the wagers you will be making with each of your UFC Fight Night 251 bets, you’ll want to be sure to have a look at the massive amounts of data available to you only at SBS. For more insightful analysis into all of the bouts on the card covered here, be certain to have a look at the UFC betting sites guide. These guides are providing the latest assessments for all of the betting lines the oddsmakers are setting on the sport. This information will aid you in assembling some solid UFC Fight Night 251 picks.
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About the Author
Theo is our NFL guy. He is the go-to man for all things football and has proven himself to be one of the most expansive writers here, with a broad knowledge of North American sports. He's a veteran journalist based in Ontario, and has covered the gambling and sports betting industry since 2016. He has written more than two dozen books and covered the NFL since the early 1990s.
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