The spotlight around the middleweight division continues Saturday with UFC Fight Night 251 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas (ESPN+).

One week after Dricus Du Plessis retained gold, former title challenger Jared Cannonier (17-8 MMA, 10-8 UFC) returns for another main event when he takes on the surging Gregory Rodrigues (16-5 MMA, 7-2 UFC) in a five-round bout with significance for both men.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie's post-event facts after UFC Fight Night 251.

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Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues

Jared Cannonier

Cannonier enters the event on a two-fight losing skid. He's never lost three consecutive bouts in his career.

Cannonier is 7-4 since he dropped to the UFC middleweight division in November 2018.

Cannonier is one of 18 fighters in UFC history to win fights in three weight classes. He’s been victorious at middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight.

Cannonier is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn knockout victories in three weight classes. Conor McGregor also accomplished the feat.

Cannonier's 241 significant strikes landed at UFC on ESPN 47 are the single-fight record for a UFC middleweight bout.

Cannonier and Marvin Vettori combined for 394 significant strikes landed at UFC on ESPN 47, the single-fight record for a UFC middleweight bout.

Gregory Rodrigues

Rodrigues' five knockout victories since 2021 in UFC middleweight competition are tied with Roman Kopylov for most in the division.

Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal

Calvin Kattar (23-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since January 2022.

Youssef Zalal (16-5-1 MMA, 6-3-1 UFC) is 3-0 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in March 2024.

Zalal absorbs just 1.70 significant strikes per minute in UFC featherweight competition, the fourth-best rate in divisional history behind Rani Yahya (1.05), Pat Sabatini (1.47) and Bryce Mitchell (1.53).

Zalal defends 66.4 percent of all opponent significant strike attempts in UFC featherweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class.

Rodolfo Vieira vs. Andre Petroski

Rodolfo Vieira (10-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) has earned all 10 of his career victories by stoppage.

Vieira's five submission victories in UFC middleweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Gerald Meerschaert (nine) and Brendan Allen (six).

Vieira's four submission victories by arm-triangle choke in UFC competition are most in company history.

Andre Petroski (12-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) completes 56.8 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC middleweight competition, the highest rate among active fighters in the weight class.

Angela Hill vs. Ketlen Souza

Angela Hill (17-14 MMA, 12-14 UFC) competes in her 26th UFC strawweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history.

Hill is one of two females in UFC history to make 25 or more octagon appearances. Jessica Andrade was first to accomplish the feat.

Hill is 11-11 since she returned to the UFC for a second stint in February 2017.

Hill's 11 victories in UFC strawweight competition are most in divisional history.

Hill's two knockout victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Andrade (four) and Amanda Lemos (three).

Hill's three knockdowns landed in UFC strawweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Lemos (six), Andrade (five) and Rose Namajunas (four).

Hill has landed 2,036 significant strikes in UFC competition, the third-most in company history behind Max Holloway (3,457) and Sean Strickland (2,197).

Hill's five fight-night bonuses for UFC strawweight bouts are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Andrade (nine), Mackenzie Dern (seven) and Namajunas (six).

Hill's 14 losses in UFC competition are most of any female in company history.

Rafael Estevam vs. Jesus Aguilar

Rafael Estevam (12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since Nov. 18. 2023. The 455-day layoff is the longest of his nearly 10-year career.

Jesus Aguilar's (11-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) three-fight UFC winning streak at flyweight is tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the division behind Alexandre Pantoja (seven), Asu Almabayev (four) and Charles Johnson (four).

Vince Morales vs. Elijah Smith

Vince Morales (11-8 MMA, 3-6 UFC) is 0-1 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in September.

Elijah Smith (7-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), son of UFC veteran Gilbert Smith, becomes the first second-generation fighter in company history.

Valter Walker vs. Don'Tale Mayes

Valter Walker (12-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is one of four heavyweights in UFC history to earn a submission victory by heel hook. He accomplished the feat at UFC 305.

Julia Avila vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti

Jacqueline Cavalcanti's (8-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) two-fight UFC winning streak at women's bantamweight is tied for the third-longest active streak in the division behind Ailin Perez (five), Macy Chiasson (four) and Norma Dumont (three).

Cavalcanti has earned all three of her UFC victories by decision.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 251.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Fight Night 251 pre-event facts: A historic second-generation octagon debut