Jared Cannonier Recaps Comeback Win at UFC Vegas 102: ‘I’d Rather Die On My Feet Than Die On My Back’

UFC middleweight contender Jared Cannonier claimed a hard-earned victory over Gregory Rodrigues at UFC Vegas 102, but he had to do it the hard way.

In a torrid opening round for the 40-year-old contender, Cannonier was dropped twice by the heavy-handed Brazilian, whose striking had the American fighter in big trouble early.

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But, despite a disastrous opening five minutes, Cannonier rallied in the second round, then made the breakthrough at the end of the third when he dropped Rodrigues with a powerful short elbow and very nearly finished him with strikes as he came within seconds of a third-round TKO.

Despite missing out on the finish in Round 3, Cannonier picked up where he left of in Round 4 as he resumed his onslaught to finish Rodrigues with a flurry of fists just 21 seconds into the penultimate round.

It was a remarkable come-from-behind victory for Cannonier, who snapped a two-fight skid following back-to-back losses to rival contenders Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho in 2024.

After his victory, Cannonier told UFC analyst and former double-champion Daniel Cormier that he proved that he could fight through adversity, and said that if he was going to go out, he’d go out swinging.

“Well, I guess I was hurt enough to get dropped on my a** couple of times in that fight,” he smiled.

“But naturally so. Gregory hits hard as hell, and he was slinging big-a** shots.

“I was able to weather the storm and keep my composure, even in those really tough spots, and work my way back up to my feet. And then, I’d rather die on my feet than die on my back.”

Cannonier also revealed that he thought he’d won the fight at the end of the third round, when the bell saved Rodrigues, and had to regroup before resuming his attack at the start of Round 4.

“I didn’t hear the bell ring at the end of that round, so I thought I finished the fight,” he admitted.

“I got up and I was looking around like, ‘How come nobody’s excited as I am?’

“But then they reaffirmed that it was just the end of the round. I was like, ‘Oh, OK!’ But you know, they gave me the corner to continue to deliver the message (of) how they saw it on the outside. I had him against the ropes. He was hurt. He was slowing down. I was able to finish my energy where I felt great. I could do this for five more rounds if he needed to, and without getting hit, of course!”

In his moment of victory, Cannonier also paid tribute to his team at The MMA Lab, and revealed that he and his teammate Jose Delgado had chatted about how they’d share a fight card one day.

And at the UFC APEX, they did exactly that, with both men emerging victorious with TKO finishes.

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“We saw Jose do his thing earlier today,” he said.

“I think we definitely spoke this into existence. Because way before he was on the Contender (Series), I think he was on a fight skid or something like that.

“I said, ‘One day you’re going to be in the Octagon. I’m going to headline a card with you on it.’ Or he said it… One way or another, it was said! And now it’s come to fruition.

“We both spoke finishes into existence, so I’m really happy today.”

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