UFC Fight Night 251 took place on Saturday, February 15, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card delivered several exciting finishes, highlighted by a heavy-hitting main event between middleweight contender Jared Cannonier and the explosive Gregory Rodrigues.

Rodrigues has garnered attention for his explosive power and thrilling fighting style, having seen the scorecards only three times in his 10 UFC bouts. He opened as a considerable favorite at -225 against top-ten-ranked Cannonier, who had nearly double the UFC experience. After surviving an early onslaught, Cannonier began to take control, hurting Rodrigues multiple times before finishing him in the fourth round.

Another standout win on the card came from featherweight Youssef Zalal, who extended his win streak to seven with a unanimous decision victory over #10-ranked Calvin Kattar. Zalal has been on a tear since being released by the UFC in 2022, following a draw with Da’Mon Blackshear. The 28-year-old stayed active for nearly two years before being called back to the UFC, where he kicked off his second stint with three finishes.

Needless to say, this UFC Apex event did not disappoint, and we’re excited to see what’s next for these fighters. Here are some potential matchups from the team at Fight Bananas that could follow Saturday’s card.

FIGHT BANANAS TOP MATCHUPS

Jared Cannonier vs. Robert Whittaker

Currently ranked #5 in the middleweight division, Robert Whittaker has remained at the top of the rankings for years. His most recent fight was a submission loss to future title challenger Khamzat Chimaev. Sitting at #7, Cannonier could face Whittaker in a rematch to both avenge his 2020 loss and work his way back into title contention.

Youssef Zalal vs. Sodiq Yusuff

After his win over #10-ranked Calvin Kattar, Zalal entered the featherweight rankings for the first time. However, with only four fights since his return to the UFC, and with much of the featherweight division already booked, Zalal should be in no rush to fight his way through the rankings. A matchup against Sodiq Yusuff could be a great test for Zalal as he looks to solidify his place in the division. The fight could serve as a stepping stone before taking on another top-ten opponent.

Angela Hill vs. Amanda Ribas

Hill was one of two fighters aged 40 or older to secure wins on Saturday, the other being Cannonier in the main event. Hill has found herself on the wrong side of several split decisions throughout her UFC career, but on Saturday, she convinced two judges that she had done enough. Amanda Ribas, on the other hand, is currently on a two-fight losing streak in her first two main events with the promotion, most recently suffering a submission loss to Mackenzie Dern. A fight with Ribas would give Hill an opportunity to climb the rankings, as Ribas is currently ranked #8 in the strawweight division.

ELLE DAWSON’S TOP MATCHUPS

Nazim Sadykhov vs. Mike Davis

Nazim Sadykhov is known for having exciting fights, with many believing his 2023 war with Viacheslav Borshchev could have been Fight of the Year. His Saturday bout against Ismael Bonfim started off with an incredibly exciting first round but ended disappointingly in between rounds after Bonfim expressed to the ref he could not see following a head kick. Davis is coming off of his first career loss since debuting against Gilbert Burns in 2019. His explosive style would make for a fun fight, and the matchup could propel the winner toward the rankings.

Youssef Zalal vs. Dan Ige

Zalal entered the rankings at #12 after his unanimous decision victory over #10-ranked Calvin Kattar. Considering his performance, he deserves a ranked opponent, but likely someone behind him in the rankings. Zalal is four fights into his second stint in the UFC and should not be in any rush to fight his way up the rankings. A matchup against #15-ranked Dan Ige would make for a technical and fun fight between the two strikers. It also presents Zalal with the opportunity to showcase his grappling, which he mentioned was his original game plan against Kattar.

He claims his adjustment in game plan was due to Kattar allegedly greasing. Zalal had some strong words for coach Firas Zahabi, stating that his fighters have been accused of greasing multiple times. Check out the full interview with Youssef Zalal here.