The middleweight division needs to move freely. And to create new challenges for the top guns in the division, the matchmakers need to give the fighters a chance to step into the top 15 list. This time, at UFC Vegas 102, Gregory Rodrigues got that chance to by getting to fight against the #7 middleweight contender, Jared Cannonier. While Cannonier is on a 2-fight losing streak, his story has impressed the fighting realm for years. On the other hand, Rodrigues has been climbing the ladder with 3 back-to-back wins. 

But when the fight between the two was announced, the entire fighting world began speculating how the fight would proceed and who would be the one winning. So we decided to ask OpenAI’s ChatGPT to predict the outcome of the main event for UFC Vegas 102. But first, let’s take a look at the stylistic matchup that the AI weighed in on. 

AI weighs in on the stylistic matchup between Jared Cannonier and Gregory Rodrigues

Cannonier is known for his powerful striking abilities. And that reflects on his professional MMA record. Out of 17 total wins, ‘Killa Gorilla’ has won 9 fights via KO/TKO. On top of that, he has a striking accuracy of 50% and lands 4.49 significant strikes per minute. Cannonier has the habit of maintaining his composure under pressure. And that is his biggest asset as per the artificial intelligence. 

However, according to the AI, Jared Cannonier was also vulnerable to grapplers, just like most striking-heavy fighters. The response was, “While he has improved his takedown defense, grappling-heavy opponents can still pose challenges for him.” But hasn’t he won 3 of his bouts by submissions, and hasn’t tapped out in any of his 25 bouts? Well, Rodrigues might become the first one to submit ‘Killa Gorilla’. 

That’s because Rodrigues has a strong background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has won 4 out of his 16 wins by submissions. But that doesn’t mean ‘Robocop’ can’t throw punches and kicks. 9 of his wins are by KO/TKO, which makes him one of the most balanced fighters in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. However, it’s the Brazilian middleweight’s striking defense that might pose a problem at UFC Fight Night 251. 

So, what is going to happen in the main event on 15 February 2025, at the UFC Apex? It’s finally time to see what the artificial intelligence had to say. After all, given the stats and the styles, the matchup is nothing short of exciting. 

Who will win the main event of UFC Vegas 102?

The AI chatbot wrote, “Jared Cannonier might have the edge due to his striking power and experience,” and this would be the outcome provided the fight proceeded with the fighters on their feet throughout the 5 rounds. ‘Killa Gorilla’ has been fighting in the professional realm since 2011, but ‘Robocop’ transcended from the grappling stage to the MMA cage in 2014. Well, Rodrigues is 8 years younger than Cannonier and that can account for the lesser experience. But if the fight went to the ground, it would be Rodrigues who seemed to have the upper hand. 

ChatGPT’s response continued, “Ultimately, if forced to choose based on these strengths and weaknesses, one might lean slightly towards Jared Cannonier due to his striking advantage and experience.” Well, the fighting community would like to disagree with the AI’s prediction, as most of the fight fans believe that it will be Rodrigues who would win in the early rounds with a stoppage. Now, it has become even more interesting. Would it be the AI’s prediction that would be correct? We can only witness that come Saturday night. 

It’s true that anything can happen in a mixed martial arts fight. And the AI model agreed. After all, both Cannonier and Rodrigues had almost an equally clear path to victory. All they need to do is believe in themselves and do what they do best. 

What are your thoughts on the AI’s prediction? Who do you think will rise victorious at UFC Vegas 102? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.