A compelling middleweight clash between Cannonier and Zalal headlines a UFC event in Las Vegas. Cannonier aims to bounce back from consecutive losses, while Zalal seeks to extend his impressive six-fight winning streak. The card also features intriguing matchups like Shahbazyan vs. Budka and Vieira vs. Petroski.
This Saturday, the UFC Apex in Las Vegas will host a thrilling middleweight showdown as Cannonier and Zalal clash in a pivotal fight. Both fighters are eager to solidify their positions in a weight class currently dominated by heavy hitters. Cannonier , a veteran of the UFC for over a decade, enters the bout seeking to rebound from consecutive losses for the first time since 2018. His last outing saw him succumb to a unanimous decision defeat against on August 24th at UFC on ESPN 62.
Despite his recent struggles, the 40-year-old remains a formidable force with a respectable 7-6 record in the UFC across thirteen appearances. On the other side of the Octagon, Zalal's stock has never been higher. Riding a wave of six consecutive victories, all of which have ended in finishes, Zalal enters this fight as a heavy favorite. His most recent triumph came on November 2nd at UFC Fight Night 246, where he secured a second-round arm-triangle choke victory against The Moroccan Devil, as he is known, has been a subject of much debate since his arrival in the UFC in 2018, with some praising him as a blue-chip prospect and others questioning his legitimacy. The card also features a compelling middleweight bout between Shahbazyan and Budka. Shahbazyan, once touted as an undefeated phenom with a 11-0 record, has experienced a recent downturn in form, losing five of his last seven fights. His last defeat came against in August via an arm-triangle choke submission at UFC on ESPN 62. Budka, on the other hand, is yet to register a win in the UFC, suffering consecutive losses. Despite his struggles, Budka remains an intriguing figure in the middleweight division due to his exceptional grappling skills and experience as a black belt and multiple-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion. He will look to capitalize on his recent momentum when he faces Petroski in a featured attraction. Vieira is set to take on Petroski in a middleweight bout. Vieira, a decorated grappler known as The Black Belt Hunter, boasts a gold medal from the 2015 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Fighting World Championships. Petroski, a 33-year-old flyweight, has quietly amassed a 7-2 record since joining the UFC in 2021.
UFC Middleweight Cannonier Zalal Shahbazyan Budka Vieira Petroski
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