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Jared Cannonier showcased his warrior spirit at UFC Vegas 102, weathering an early storm before dismantling Gregory Rodrigues with a devastating fourth-round finish. Despite facing serious danger in the opening round, Cannonier roared back in classic fashion to secure another main event victory.
Rodrigues came out swinging with bad intentions, wasting no time in putting Cannonier on the defensive. His aggressive approach paid off early as a thunderous right hook floored Cannonier within the first two minutes. Moments later, a well-placed left hand dropped him again, making it look like the fight could be over before it truly began.
However, Cannonier, known for his resilience, refused to fold.
“I guess I was hurt enough to get dropped on my ass a couple of times,” he admitted. “He was slinging big ass shots. I was able to weather the storm and keep my composure in those tough spots.”
As the first round ended, the tides began to shift. Rodrigues’ high output started taking a toll on his gas tank, while Cannonier remained calculated, waiting for his moment.
By the second round, Cannonier took control, walking Rodrigues down with precision strikes. The Brazilian’s power had started to fade, and Cannonier seized the opportunity, landing hard shots that forced Rodrigues onto the back foot. Still, the threat wasn’t entirely neutralized, as Rodrigues dug deep and launched another offensive push in the third.
That gamble, however, proved costly. Inside the clinch, Cannonier unleashed a brutal elbow that sent Rodrigues crashing to the canvas. Smelling blood, he followed up with relentless ground-and-pound, leaving Rodrigues dazed as he stumbled back to his corner at the end of the round.
With Rodrigues clearly compromised, Cannonier wasted no time in the fourth. He came out swinging, pressuring his opponent against the cage and unleashing a merciless barrage to the body and head. Rodrigues had nowhere to escape as Cannonier delivered the final crushing blow, sending him to the mat and forcing the referee’s intervention just 21 seconds into the round.
“I’d rather die on my feet than die on my back,” Cannonier declared, emphasizing his never-say-die mentality. “My improvements definitely showed in this fight.”
At 40 years old, Cannonier reminded the middleweight division that he remains a serious threat. After back-to-back losses, this emphatic finish puts him back in the mix, proving that experience, grit, and knockout power still make him one of the most dangerous fighters in the game.