Jafel Filho enters UFC Vegas 116 on April 25 in Las Vegas with a clear mission: add another submission to his UFC run and keep pushing toward a place in the record books. The Brazilian takes on Cody Durden in a catchweight bout, with the matchup set inside the Meta APEX. jafel filho says he is ready to chase another finish while carrying the momentum of his recent first-round win.
jafel filho Chases Another Unique Finish
The spotlight is on jafel filho because his UFC wins have already come in three different ways: kimura, rear-naked choke, and arm-triangle choke. That variety matters to him, because he wants to become one of the rare fighters who can secure submissions from many positions rather than hunting only one opening. Charles Oliveira currently holds the UFC all-time record for submissions with 17, and Filho is trying to build a resume that keeps him in that conversation.
Filho said he enters the fight feeling aligned physically, psychologically, and spiritually, and he described this camp as one where his heart and mind are in sync. He is also returning after a difficult stretch away from the cage, but he said he has chosen to focus on his career and his next assignment rather than dwell on what happened in January in Rio de Janeiro.
Durden Brings Experience, But Filho Has the Finishing Edge
Cody Durden arrives with UFC experience and numbers that suggest a competitive fight if he can keep the bout at his preferred pace. He is a 15-fight UFC veteran, and the context around the matchup shows him as a fighter who lands more significant strikes per minute and more takedowns per 15 minutes than Filho. Still, the momentum line points strongly toward jafel filho, who has finished opponents repeatedly and has made a habit of ending fights early.
Filho’s recent run is one of the main reasons this fight is drawing attention. He is coming off a first-round submission over Clayton Carpenter, and three of his previous four contests have gone his way. In that stretch, his aggressiveness and pressure have stood out as defining traits, especially in the opening round.
jafel filho Says the Next Submission Could Be One Fans Have Never Seen
Filho also made clear that he has another option in his back pocket: a position he says begins from a kimura and can flow into a reverse triangle. He said he even named that position after himself. The technique starts with a takedown, moves to the back, and can shift into a seatbelt grip before the pressure changes onto the cervical spine and neck.
“There’s a very interesting position I use that comes from the kimura, ” Jafel Filho said. “I take him down, take the back and lock a reverse triangle. I even named that position after myself. Who knows, maybe it happens now?”
What Comes Next in Las Vegas
The setting is straightforward: UFC Vegas 116, April 25, Meta APEX, Las Vegas. The pressure is also straightforward: jafel filho wants another submission, Durden needs to break a difficult slide, and both men know how much a fast start could shape the night. If Filho can impose his pace early, he could strengthen the case that his run is about more than one style or one round.
For now, the story centers on whether jafel filho can turn another bold claim into another visible finish when the cage door closes in Las Vegas. If he does, the record chase only gets louder.
