UFC Fight Night 251 predictions: Do we like Jared Cannonier or Gregory Rodrigues in Vegas?

The UFC is back on its home turf this week with a former middleweight title challenger at the top of the lineup.

UFC Fight Night 251 (ESPN+) takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Get pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.

Andre Petroski vs. Rodolfo Vieira

Records: Petroski (12-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC), Vieira (10-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC)

Past five: Petroski 3-2, Vieira 4-1

Division: Middleweight

Rankings: None

Odds (as of 02.15.25): Petroski +225, Vieira -280

Junkie pick results: Petroski 7, Vieira 4

Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov

Records: Bonfim (20-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Sadykhov (9-1-1 MMA, 2-0-1 UFC)

Past five: Bonfim 4-1, Sadykhov 4-0-1

Division: Lightweight

Rankings: None

Odds (as of 02.15.25): Bonfim -160, Sadykhov +135

Junkie pick results: Bonfim 8, Sadykhov 3

Dylan Budka vs. Edmen Shahbazyan

Records: Budka (7-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC), Shahbazyan (13-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC)

Past five: Budka 2-3, Shahbazyan 2-3

Division: Middleweight

Rankings: None

Odds (as of 02.15.25): Budka +250, Shahbazyan -310

Junkie pick results: Shahbazyan 11, Budka 0

Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal

Records: Kattar (23-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC), Zalal (16-5-1 MMA, 6-3-1 UFC)

Past five: Kattar 1-4, Zalal 5-0

Division: Featherweight

Rankings: Kattar No. 14

Odds (as of 02.15.25): Kattar +310, Zalal -395

Junkie pick results: Zalal 7, Kattar 4

Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues

Records: Cannonier (17-8 MMA, 10-8 UFC), Rodrigues (16-5 MMA, 7-2 UFC)

Past five: Cannonier 2-3, Rodrigues 4-1

Division: Middleweight

Rankings: Cannonier No. 9, Rodrigues No. 12

Odds (as of 02.15.25): Cannonier +170, Rodrigues -205

Junkie pick results: Rodrigues 7, Cannonier 4

Preliminary card picks

Although they don’t count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:

• Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews: Delgado 11, Matthews 0

• Angela Hill vs. Ketlen Souza: Hill 8, Souza 3

• Jesus Aguilar vs. Rafael Estevam: Estevam 7, Aguilar 4

• Gabriel Bonfim vs. Khaos Williams: Bonfim 7, Williams a4

• Vince Morales vs. Elijah Smith: Smith 10, Morales 1

• Don’Tale Mayes vs. Valter Walker: Walker 11, Mayes 0

• Julia Avila vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti: Cavalcanti 11, Avila 0

Check out all the main card picks below.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 251.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Fight Night 251 predictions: Do we like Jared Cannonier or Gregory Rodrigues in Vegas?