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

Rodolfo Vieira vs. Andre Petroski

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 -220, Sadykhov +180
Junkie pick results: Bonfim 8, Sadykhov 3

Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov

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 +320, Shahbazyan -410
Junkie pick results: Shahbazyan 11, Budka 0

Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Dylan Budka

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 +370, Zalal -485
Junkie pick results: Zalal 7, Kattar 4

Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal

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 +200, Rodrigues -245
Junkie pick results: Rodrigues 7, Cannonier 4

Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigeus

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.)

	Cannonier vs. Rodrigues	Kattar vs. Zalal	Budka vs. Shahbazyan	I. Bonfim vs. Sadykhov	Petroski vs. Vieira
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 13-7	Rodrigues (60%)	Zalal (59%)	Shahbazyan (85%)	I. Bonfim (63%)	Vieira (71%)
Matt Erickson @MattE 13-7	Rodrigues	Zalal	Shahbazyan	I. Bonfim	Petroski
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 13-7	Rodrigues	Kattar	Shahbazyan	I. Bonfim	Vieira
Ken Hathaway @1khathaway 12-8 2017, 2022, 2024 Champion	Cannonier	Zalal	Shahbazyan	I. Bonfim	Vieira
Nolan King @mma_kings 12-8 2023 Champion	Cannonier	Kattar	Shahbazyan	Sadykhov	Petroski
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 11-9	Rodrigues	Zalal	Shahbazyan	I. Bonfim	Petroski
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 11-9 2024 Champion	Cannonier	Zalal	Shahbazyan	Sadykhov	Petroski
Brian Garcia @thegoze 11-9 2017 Champion	Cannonier	Kattar	Shahbazyan	I. Bonfim	Petroski
Simon Samano @SJSamano 10-10	Rodrigues	Kattar	Shahbazyan	Sadykhov	Petroski
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 9-11 2014 Champion	Rodrigues	Zalal	Shahbazyan	I. Bonfim	Vieira
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 9-11	Rodrigues	Zalal	Shahbazyan	I. Bonfim	Vieira
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 8-12	Rodrigues	Zalal	Shahbazyan	I. Bonfim	Petroski