Santiago Ponzinibbio and Daniel Rodriguez aren’t title contenders, but both men bring the action every time they step into the Octagon. When a fight like this lands on an event like UFC Fight Night Des Moines on May 3, it immediately stands out as a potential performance bonus magnet.

According to MMA Latinoamérica, Ponzinibbio vs. Rodriguez is a go.

It’s unclear if that fight will be the main event. Based on the four fights locked into that event, it’s probably the most likely to hold the featured bout spot.

UFC Fight Night Des Moines (Confirmed Bouts):

• Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez – Welterweight (170 lbs)
• Marina Rodriguez vs. Gillian Robertson – Women’s Strawweight (115 lbs)
• Jeong Yeong Lee vs. Trevor Peek – Featherweight (145 lbs)
• Cameron Smotherman vs. Serhiy Sidey – Bantamweight (135 lbs)

Ponzinibbio, 38, picked up a big win over Carlston Harris in his last fight in January. The victory was huge for the Argentinian veteran. Before that win, he was mired in a two-fight losing streak and had lost four of his last five bouts.

This fight with Rodriguez could be a tough one for Ponzinibbio. Rodriguez, 38 isn’t as athletic as his opponent, but he’s as tough and composed as anyone in the division.

Like Ponzinibbio, Rodriguez is coming off a much-needed win in his last fight. In October 2024, Rodriguez earned a split-decision victory over Alex Morono, snapping a three-fight losing streak.

Given the ages of the fighters and their recent history, it’s possible the loser of this fight could find themselves on the wrong side of the cut line. So, beyond the normal drive to win, there could be even more motivation for both warriors.

We still have some time before this card rolls around. We’ll see how the rest of the lineup comes together and what else is added to the main card.

What’s Next For the UFC?

On Saturday, the UFC is back in its home base. The UFC Apex in Las Vegas will host UFC Vegas 102. In the main event, Jared Cannonier will attempt to defend his No. 7 ranking against Gregory Rodrigues.

It’s a pivotal middleweight battle as Cannonier is trying to remain a serious contender and Rodrigues is looking to make his own run up the 185-pound rankings. Here is a look at the entire card.

UFC Vegas 102 - Fight Card

• No. 7 - Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues – Middleweight (185 lbs)
• No. 12 - Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal – Featherweight (145 lbs)
• Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov – Lightweight (155 lbs)
• Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews – Featherweight (145 lbs)
• Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Dylan Budka – Middleweight (185 lbs)
• Rodolfo Vieira vs. Andre Petroski – Middleweight (185 lbs)
• No. 12 - Julia Avila vs. No. 13 - Jacqueline Cavalcanti – Bantamweight (135 lbs)
• Vince Morales vs. Elijah Smith – Bantamweight (135 lbs)
• Valter Walker vs. No. 15 - Don’Tale Mayes – Heavyweight (265 lbs)
• Rafael Estevam vs. Jesus Aguilar – Flyweight (125 lbs)
• No. 13 - Angela Hill vs. Ketlen Souza – Strawweight (115 lbs)
• Gabriel Bonfim vs. Khaos Williams – Welterweight (170 lbs)
• Jared Gordon vs. Mashrabjon Ruziboev - Lightweight (155 lbs)