The former UFC title Challenger hopes that the third time is the charm for him this weekend in Las Vegas.
At the age of 40, Jared Cannonier is the oldest competition in the middleweight, currently in the top 15 of the division. 'Killa Gorilla' may have fallen short in his only UFC title fight against Israel Adesanya, but wins over Marvin Vettori and Sean Strickland saw him bouncing back in style.
Unfortunately, as he admits himself, 2024 was a bad year for Cannonier who lost back-to-back main event against rising stars in Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho. He returns this weekend in a main event conflict with Gregory Rodrigues, where he hopes to turn his fortunes.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Jared Cannonier knows that bets that hang over his upcoming competition with Gregory Rodrigues
Jared Cannonier knows what the score is in this next matchup in which he is on 15 February.
Gregory Rodrigues from Brazil has won three in a row, but after he entered this fight without a ranking next to his name, it will undoubtedly change if he can get past the #7-ranked competitor of the UFC Apex.
Cannonier is convinced that he can still compete at the highest level, but the first three-v-fight loss of his career would be a difficult obstacle to come back.
He spoke in a recent interview with MMA Junkie about what this fight means before his career and why it could be a final role of the dice for the 25-Fight veteran. “Again,” he started. “I think we'll give it another chance.
“I appreciate them that they give me a main event. I am aware of who Gregory Rodrigues is, and it is a tough challenge.
“I appreciate that I still have to overcome a challenge. That is what is expected in this organization. I am in the position in which I find myself because I did not win the last two fights. “
Jared Cannonier quickly found himself at a potential gatekeeper
There is certainly no shame that Jared Cannonier loses from Imavov and Borralho who have risen the middleweight rankings as two of the most in-shape opportunities in the division at the moment.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
That said, there is a big difference in losses from one of those two names and a loss to suffer from Rodrigues who, despite the fact that a favorite of fans, has not yet achieved the same kind of success during his career.
This fight is about Cannonier who shows that there are levels for the division by refusing Rodrigues access to the top 15. Only 12 months ago, 'Killa Gorilla' was apparently one fight away from another crack in the 185-pound gold, but a lot can change at the highest level at the time.
Comments