By FCF Staff

After incurring back-to-back losses in 2024 and dropping out of the top five of the UFC’s middleweight rankings, Jared Cannonier is confident he reverse that trend this weekend.

The 40-old veteran is booked to fight surging middleweight, Gregory Rodrigues, in the main event of UFC Vegas 102. The bout will mark the first time Cannonier (17-8) has fought, since he dropped a decision loss to Caio Borralho in August, which followed his stoppage loss to Nassourdine Imavov in June.

Recently, the former heavyweight spoke with MMA Junkie.com. While Cannonier acknowledged the abilities of Rodrigues, the American is confident he can halt the Brazilian fighter’s rise.

“I can feel (a knockout),” Cannonier said. “I feel like I’m going to go in there and be able to let my hands go. I want to display the speed advantage that I have, show the power that I possess to accompany that speed and my ability to go in there to compete, perform and more importantly, win at the highest level.”

Rodrigues (16-5) is riding a three fight winning streak. In his last outing, back in July, he recorded a unanimous decision win over Christian Leroy Duncan.

Currently, Cannonier is ranked #7 in the UFC’s middleweight division. Rodrigues is not currently sitting in the top fifteen.