Preview: UFC Fight Night 246 Prelims

Bantamweights

Charles Jourdain (15-8-1, 6-7-1 UFC) vs. Victor Henry (24-6, 3-1 UFC)

ODDS: Jourdain (-125), Henry (+105)

This marks Jourdain’s last chance to salvage what has been a surprisingly rough 2024 campaign. Quebec’s “Air” was one of Canada’s top prospects when the UFC picked him up in 2019, as he was an obvious talent who still had a lot to work out. Jourdain didn’t have much of a set style, mostly looking to throw out whatever ideas came to mind, making for an inconsistent approach that still succeeded through some big moments. That mostly remained the book on Jourdain for the first few years of his UFC career, though he did seem to show the type of improvements that would come through high-level experience. He was still generally a wildman, but by 2022, he was showing a newfound level of ability to pick up on his successes and build momentum over the course of his fights. A win over Kron Gracie in May 2023, which saw him fight behind a smart game plan and avoid clear grappling threats, seemed to mark the moment that Jourdain had fully matured into a consistent fighter. Instead, it now stands as the last strong performance of his career. Jourdain managed to win his next fight over Ricardo Ramos but only through spamming guillotine chokes in an ill-advised approach, and his last two performances were each disappointments. He mostly fought a range game against Sean Woodson, one of the tallest strikers in the division, and got quickly thrown off by the power of Jean Silva, eventually suffering the first knockout loss of his career. Jourdain cuts down to 135 pounds in this assignment, which could be a risky gambit since he doesn’t get a soft touch in being paired with Henry.

Henry’s long-overdue UFC debut came in 2022, as “La Magnosta” finally got the call after a decade of experience, which made him ready to hit the ground running in a deep bantamweight division. Henry has still suffered his setbacks, most notably in the last great performance of Raphael Assuncao’s career two years ago, but his dedication to fast-paced and high-volume striking has been enough to frustrate—if not overwhelm—his opponents more often than not. Jourdain’s move down to bantamweight might unlock some additional power, but Henry has yet to be finished in a long career. If anything, it might be hard to bank on Jourdain’s gas tank down at 135 pounds given that he’s matched with someone who will likely put him through 15 minutes of a high pace. Add in Jourdain’s questionable decision making of late, and the Canadian needs to prove himself before earning the benefit of the doubt. The pick is Henry via decision.

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