Jared Cannonier faces a pivotal fight in Las Vegas this weekend. 

Now aged 40, the former middleweight title challenger will seek to arrest a two-fight skid in the main event of the UFC’s event this weekend inside its Apex facility on the outskirts of Las Vegas when he takes on the former LFA champion Gregory Rodrigues (16-5, 7-2 UFC).

Not only that, Rodrigues — the winner of three straight fights — faces by far the biggest challenge of his career and a possible entry into the 185-pound ladder of contenders against the 7th-ranked Cannonier.

The American fighter has faced a far sterner level of competition throughout his career, owning wins over the likes of Anderson Silva, Sean Strickland, Marvin Vettori and Kelvin Gastelum throughout his UFC run — but one more loss, which would be three in succession, would likely spell the end of Cannonier’s status as a top contender at middleweight.

We find out either way on Saturday night.

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