Tag: Jared Cannonier

Michael Bisping: Jared Cannonier perfect opponent to test Khamzat Chimaev’s cardio

Michael Bisping is all in for Jared Cannonier to be Khamzat Chimaev’s next fight.

[autotag]Michael Bisping[/autotag] is all in for [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] to be [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag]’s next fight.

With both men gunning for a title shot, Cannonier (17-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) called out Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) for a five-round fight.

Cannonier almost fought Chimaev when he was offered a short-notice opportunity this past October at UFC 294, but ended up tearing his right MCL shortly after getting the call. Kamaru Usman got the fight instead, and almost beat Chimaev when he rallied late. Bisping thinks Chimaev needs to address his cardio issues before fighting for the belt, and sees Cannonier as the man to do it.

“I would like to see him against a Jared Cannonier (type of fighter), because if he can’t take him down, and he can’t fix this problem with the cardio, then he’s going to have a real long-term problem going forward,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “But who knows – maybe there’s a reason why he was running out of gas, OK? Probably because he doesn’t pace himself. He goes forward straight away, wrestles.

“When you try to take someone down, that is the most cardio-taxing element of mixed martial arts. Trying to wrestle someone, trying to grab hold of another grown man and force them to the floor – using technique, of course, but a lot of power goes into it. I can tell you from experience, that is absolutely exhausting – especially when you’ve got another world-class opponent who knows how to stop takedowns fighting against you.”

Bisping thinks former champion Sean Strickland also makes sense for Chimaev, but thinks Cannonier is the fight to make.

“Jared Cannonier, in my humble opinion, is the perfect opponent,” Bisping said. “There’s others out there. There’s Sean Strickland. They had a little moment in the gym, as well. So Sean Strickland-Khamzat Chimaev, take my money. I’d love to see that one. But Khamzat-Jared Cannonier – that would be great.”

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Jared Cannonier wants No. 1 fight vs. Khamzat Chimaev: ‘Let’s see what he’s got in five rounds’

Jared Cannonier is open to taking out Khamzat Chimaev on his way to a title shot.

[autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] is open to taking out [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] on his way to a title shot.

Cannonier (17-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) was offered Chimaev on short notice this past October for UFC 294, but wound up tearing his right MCL shortly after getting the call. Chimaev faced former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman instead, edging him out by majority decision.

Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) thinks he’s owed a title shot after UFC CEO Dana White declared his fight with Usman as a No. 1 contender, but Cannonier thinks he should be included in that discussion, too.

“It’ll sound cool to say, ‘I’m your huckleberry.’ It does sound cool,” Cannonier told Inside Fighting. “At this point in time, he’s ranked No. 9. I’m down to make it happen, as long as it’s clear that this is a contenders match. … When I get back, if they’re not going to give me the title (shot, then I want) the next best thing, the thing that gets me to the title. And if you say that’s Khamzat, let’s do it.”

Cannonier is targeting a return at the end of March. If he gets Chimaev next, he thinks it should be a five-round fight to really prove who should be the next title challenger.

“They really want to push him to the title. He really wants to get to the title, and I’m right here,” Cannonier added. “I shouldn’t have to say, ‘Hey, I want a title shot.’ It’s clear and evident that the ass I’ve been kicking says that I want the title shot. So if it’s not going to be the title next, I will definitely fight the next guy in line. And if it’s Khamzat, let’s make that happen. Let’s do a fiver – let’s see what he’s got in five rounds.”

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Jared Cannonier ‘feeling stronger than ever,’ provides timetable for return from MCL surgery

Former UFC title challenger Jared Cannonier is feeling optimistic about his return from knee surgery.

[autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] is on the road to recovery from knee surgery and is eyeing his return to action.

Cannonier (17-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) tore his right MCL in October, right after getting a phone call to step in to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294. Doctors took care of meniscus damage as well, and the former title challenger has been doing his best to stay in shape during physical therapy to get ready for a return to the octagon.

“I did see my surgeon, he did say that he would be able to clear me by the tail end of March,” Cannonier told Inside Fighting. “So, another couple of months, a month and a half, I should be back clear to compete. In the next couple of weeks, maybe in the next month, I’m going to be really getting back to my grappling. That’s the only thing I haven’t really been doing is a lot of grappling.

“I’ve been continuing my strength and conditioning and working my striking and stuff like that. I’m still feeling sharp, I’m feeling stronger than ever. I’ve made a lot of improvements since my last fight, and even since the injury I’ve made more improvements. The injury occurred and I feel like when I came back, I’m a better fighter because I’ve been studying and still thinking about this thing.”

The injury suffered in training meant Cannonier would have to miss out on a big opportunity to get his name back in the title picture for another shot at gold. Not only did it scrap his chance to fight Chimaev on short notice, it also canceled a booking against Roman Dolidze in December.

“The Killa Gorilla’s” first UFC title shot came against then-champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 276, but he ended up on the wrong end of a unanimous decision. Cannonier rebounded nicely and went on to defeat now-former champion Sean Strickland by split decision, followed by a unanimous decision win over Marvin Vettori.

Chimaev ended up facing former welterweight champ Kamaru Usman at UFC 294, and won by majority decision. He believes that win was enough to earn a title shot, and is currently waiting to see who the promotion plans to have Dricus Du Plessis fight for his first title defense.

Considering how much has changed in the division since his last fight in June, Cannonier isn’t quite sure what the future holds when he’s ready to return, but is anxious to find out.

“As unfortunate as it was, I wasn’t too bent out of shape about it,” Cannonier said. “These things happen. I’m happy about the place that I’m at and the environment that I’m in so that I’m about to recover and even come back stronger.

“It sucks the opportunity had to go away like that, but things happen for a reason. I’m waiting for this whole thing to play out. When I get back, the reasons will be made clear for sure.”

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UFC in 2023: A ridiculously robust look at the stats, streaks, skids and record-setters

Check out a full recap of 2023’s most significant footnotes and milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

Now that the year has come to a close, and with a major assist from UFC research analyst and live statistics producers Michael Carroll, here are some of 2023’s most significant milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

After scrapped bout with Jared Cannonier, frustrated Roman Dolidze calls for top middleweights – even Bo Nickal

Roman Dolidze hopes to draw another notable name in the UFC middleweight division after losing out on Jared Cannonier.

[autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag] hopes to draw another notable name in the middleweight division after losing out on [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag].

Dolidze (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) was booked to face Cannonier (17-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) at UFC Fight Night on Dec. 2, but the bout was scrapped after Cannonier tore his MCL. Dolidze’s fight with Cannonier was already in jeopardy after “The Killa Gorilla” revealed he was offered the Khamzat Chimaev fight on short notice at UFC 294 before injuring himself.

Currently without a fight, Dolidze called out an array of top-ranked middleweights from Robert Whittaker, to Paulo Costa, and Khamzat Chimaev. He’s even willing to fight unbeaten rising star [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag] (5-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC).

“All of these top-level fighters talk so much, so loud, but no one wants to fight,” Dolidze said in a video on X (formerly Twitter). “After my Hermansson fight, I called out Khamzat. He didn’t say nothing. Costa wanted to fight in December, I call out him, he’s quiet. Whittaker is calling out guy from 170 (Usman), even Bo Nickal. I just need a good name and good fight. I think it’s better talk less and do more. Or just don’t talk.”

Dolidze is coming off a close decision loss to former title challenger Marvin Vettori at UFC 286 in March. Prior to that, the Georgian fighter scored four straight wins – including a second-round TKO of Jack Hermansson. He has earned Performance of the Night bonuses for his past three straight octagon finishes.

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Jared Cannonier reveals he tore MCL one hour after getting call to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294

Jared Cannonier reveals the UFC initially offered him the Khamzat Chimaev fight at UFC 294 – but he got injured.

[autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] said the UFC initially offered him the [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] fight at UFC 294 – but he got injured.

Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) was booked to face Paulo Costa this past Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, but Costa was forced out due to a staph infection. Cannonier says the UFC called him, but he seriously injured himself before he could accept.

The UFC then pivoted to former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who accepted, but lost to Chimaev by majority decision.

“I got the call to step in to fight Chimaev,” Cannonier told Submission Radio. “But unfortunately, before I could tell my manager to tell the UFC yes, I had injured myself. So I wasn’t able to take that fight on 10 days’ (notice). They called me on the 10th. They called me, offered me that fight – before they offered it to Usman, they offered it to me. So it would have been me. It could have easily been me.”

Cannonier, who’s coming off back-to-back wins over current UFC middleweight champ Sean Strickland and former title challenger Marvin Vettori, broke down exactly how he injured his knee.

“So finally, 10 days before the fight, they give me the call,” Cannonier said. “Eleven days, 10 days before the fight, they give me the call and say, ‘OK, we’ll give you a title shot (if you win).’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it. But let me go ahead and discuss this with my coaches like we always do and I’ll call you back with an emphatic yes.’ But not 40 minutes into practice, we’re working. I get hit with a mat return. I’m getting up – we’re working get-ups and stuff. Of course we’re working get-ups, right? Because I’m not expecting to not get taken down by Khamzat.

“I’m expecting that this guy’s going to be able to take me down, but he’s not going to be able to keep me down. And the answer in my mind is always no, they’re not, they’re never able to keep me down, and he ain’t no different. So that’s why I was working get-ups. And I got up, I got hit with a mat return, and when I hit the mat, I hit the mat in the way to where my left hip and my right foot hit the mat at the same time, and just the downward force of me hitting the ground in that manner went right to my MCL – tore the MCL. I got the MRI (and) verified it. So this opportunity, not only an hour after receiving the opportunity, does it slip through my hands in that manner.”

That means Cannonier’s (17-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) scheduled bout with Roman Dolidze (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) at UFC Fight Night on Dec. 2 in Austin, Texas is now off.

“I’m scheduled to have surgery on it this Thursday, actually,” Cannonier said. “So the fight in December is not going to happen, and the UFC knows this. I’ve already told them. They already know. We’re working on getting the insurance and all this stuff done. So I guess this is the official thing and official breaking news – if there’s ever been breaking news with my name in it.

“But there could have been this past weekend. There would have been. There would have been for sure. But that’s life, man. That’s where I’m at. I’m not even as mad about the injury. Injuries happen in this sport. It’s just the timing of it, man. That’s what hurts most about it. But I’m not going to sit here and try to hang on to this moment and wish I could have and wish I would have. I’m going to focus on recovery – focus on what I can get better.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

UFC’s Roman Dolidze on Jared Cannonier: ‘Winner of this fight needs to fight for title’

UFC middleweight standout Roman Dolidze sees a big opportunity against Jared Cannonier in December.

[autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag] sees a big opportunity against [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag].

Dolidze (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) takes on former title challenger Cannonier (17-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) at UFC Fight Night on Dec. 2, which is expected to take place in Austin, Texas.

Cannonier holds a recent win over current UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland and is coming off an impressive showing against Marvin Vettori. He was also the official backup for Strickland’s title fight against Israel Adesanya at UFC 293. So, if Dolidze can get past Cannonier, he expects to earn a title shot.

“We all know that Sean Strickland is champion and Jared has a win over him,” Dolidze told MMA Junkie Radio. “When I go and do what I need to do, just be myself there, and if everything will happen like I’m planning, it will be a very interesting situation how everything will happen because I think the winner of this fight, he need to fight for title. Let’s see what will happen.”

Dolidze’s road in the UFC hasn’t been easy since joining the roster in 2020, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. In fact, he’s the one asking for it.

“I’m just very grateful that they’re always giving me good names,” Dolidze said. “From the first day when I come to the UFC, I was asking, ‘Guys, just give me good names. I don’t care who they are, just give me good names’ because I don’t want to be the strongest in the middle of average fighters.

“I want to be the best and fighting the best guys. Jared Cannonier is a really good fighter, good opponent, strong. He’s well rounded, big experience, big name, he fought the champion, he beat the champion, and I’m very thankful for the UFC. Of course, it’s a very big fight for my career. I was ready for anybody.”

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UFC lays groundwork for Austin, Texas return in December

The UFC is heading back to Austin, Texas, it seems, as it’s taken out a permit from the state’s commission for December.

It appears the UFC is headed back to “The Lone Star State” for its final domestic Fight Night event of 2023.

The promotion has requested an event permit to hold a card Dec. 2 in Austin, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), which oversees the state’s combative sports events.

Three people with knowledge of the situation recently informed MMA Junkie of the targeted location but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an announcement. Additionally, two fighters set for the card, [autotag]Drakkar Klose[/autotag] and [autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag], also publicly indicated on social media Austin would be the location for their fight.

It’s the first time the promotion has been back to Texas since a San Antonio event in March at Moody Center. The promotion most recently visited Austin in March 2022 for UFC on ESPN 37. At the time, the event was the largest-grossing non-pay-per-view event in promotion history. The card topped by Josh Emmett vs. Calvin Kattar was action-packed with nine finishes on the card. UFC CEO Dana White was so impressed, all nine finishers received $50,000 performance bonuses.

The card does not currently have an announced headliner, though multiple contender bouts are slated for the card including Gastelum vs. [autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag], [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Rob Font[/autotag], and [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag].

The current UFC Fight Night lineup for Dec. 2 includes:

  • Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Rob Font
  • Sean Brady vs. Kelvin Gastelum
  • Jared Cannonier vs. Roman Dolidze
  • Julia Avila vs. Miesha Tate
  • Azamat Murzakanov vs. Khalil Rountree
  • Clay Guida vs. Joaquim Silva
  • Veronica Hardy vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth
  • Puna Soriano vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
  • Drakkar Klose vs. Joe Solecki

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for the UFC Fight Night on Dec. 2.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Sept. 18-24)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Sept. 18-24.

Jared Cannonier vs. Roman Dolidze added to UFC Fight Night on Dec. 2

A middleweight bout between ranked fighters Jared Cannonier and Roman Dolidze is the latest addition to UFC’s December schedule.

A middleweight bout between ranked fighters [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] and [autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag] is the latest addition to UFC’s December schedule.

Cannonier (17-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) and Dolidze (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) are expected to meet at UFC Fight Night on Dec. 2, which does not have an announced date or location at this time. ESPN was first to report the booking, which MMA Junkie subsequently verified with two people close to the situation, who requested anonymity because the promotion hasn’t made an official announcement.

Cannonier, No. 6 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie middleweight rankings, will attempt to further build his case for a second title shot after going unused as a backup fighter for UFC 293, which saw Sean Strickland dethrone champion Israel Adesanya. Cannonier holds a win over Strickland and made a case for a rematch after the title change, but it didn’t materialize.

He’ll instead take on No. 11-ranked Dolidze, who will attempt to rebound from a unanimous decision loss to Marvin Vettori at UFC 286 in March. The Georgian fighter had won four straight prior to the setback, including a finish of Jack Hermansson.

With the addition, here’s the updated UFC Fight Night lineup for Dec. 2:

  • Jared Cannonier vs. Roman Dolidze
  • Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Rob Font
  • Julia Avila vs. Miesha Tate
  • Azamat Murzakanov vs. Khalil Rountree
  • Veronica Hardy vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth

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