Athletes
Jared Cannonier: A Threatening Presence
Perennial Middleweight Contender Discusses Return From Injury, Approach In the Octagon Ahead of Saturday Night’s Main Event
Jared Cannonier’s 2023 campaign got off to an outstanding start last June as the former middleweight title challenger waltzed into the Octagon and battered Marvin Vettori with the most significant strikes landed in an a middleweight fight in UFC history.
The unanimous decision win set “Tha Killa Gorilla” on a two-fight run of success and cemented his standing as one of the top contenders in the division.
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As he headed to the gym on an October afternoon to continue preparation for his pending matchup with Roman Dolidze, Cannonier’s phone rang. It was the UFC, calling to see if he’d be willing and able to step in opposite Khamzat Chimaev later in the month in Abu Dhabi. Although he was certainly interested, the fates intervened to keep it from happening.
“It was heart-wrenching, almost heart-breaking,” said Cannonier, who accepted the fight, only to suffer a torn MCL in practice just a few hours later. “I got the call the day I injured the leg. I get an opportunity and lose it all in the span of two or three hours; it’s not fun to deal with.
“The phone call came first,” clarified Cannonier, who returns to action on Saturday in a main event showdown with rising contender Nassourdine Imavov. “I was pulling up to the gym and I got the phone call. I get the offer, I say, ‘Yes, but let me go in here, talk to my coaches, get through this practice and I’ll call you back with a firm yes after practice.’
“During that practice is when I tore my MCL. I had to call them back and tell them, ‘I can’t do it.’ It was unfortunate, but we’re back on the horse.”
Now nearly a year removed from his last appearance, Saturday’s pairing with Imavov isn’t necessarily the bout the “Level 40” fighter — Cannonier doesn’t like being judged by his age, so refers to himself as “Level 40” and not 40 years old — was anticipating given that his only losses within the division have come against former champs Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya and he’s coming off wins over Vettori and ex-titleholder Sean Strickland before that.
But with Strickland having just faced Paulo Costa last weekend and a flurry of divisional activity on deck in the coming weeks, Cannonier was kind of the “odd man out” amongst the top contenders and the seventh-ranked Imavov was the best available dance partner for his return to the Octagon.
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During his media availability on Wednesday in Louisville, the MMA Lab representative called this fight “a good dust up to knock the dust off,” and while he wasn’t looking for this kind of opportunity, he’s happy to have it, and keen on using it to re-affirm where he stands in the 185-pound ranks.
Jared Cannonier Fight Week Interview | UFC Louisville
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Jared Cannonier Fight Week Interview | UFC Louisville
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“I don’t really approach things from one perspective,” began Cannonier when asked about the quote from earlier in the day. “I try to see it from different angles, which is where that statement came from; (calling this) a tune-up fight, if you will.
“That’s not me looking past him or downplaying him — every man in this promotion is dangerous and capable of being the next big thing. That one perspective is where that came from — that he’s not the best guy in the division, but I’ll take it to, like I said, ‘knock the dust off.’
“I plan on doing big things in there, as far as my performance goes, and staking my claim,” he added. “I want the title — that’s what I want — and I want to make myself more known in that regard, more prevalent in the mind of these people that are gonna be scheduling these title fights.”
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While this may not be the matchup that Cannonier was hoping for coming off the sidelines, the timing of it certainly gives him a chance to make his case for another championship opportunity — if not next, then somewhere not too far down the line.
“You said, ‘Israel versus Dricus’ — I know everybody wants that, I know everybody is assuming that, but nobody has said anything,” he said as we discussed the upcoming divisional slate and rumored championship pairing. “There is nothing official as of yet, so that’s not what I’m trying to manifest. I’m trying to manifest me versus the champ, whoever it may be.
“I think my style speaks for itself,” answered Cannonier when asked about balancing his desire to make a statement and stand out with ensuring that he gets his hand raised for a third consecutive fight this weekend. “I don’t go in there and play for the judges, try to win rounds or anything like that — I’m trying to win a fight, I’m trying to hit you hard, and I’m getting better. I’ve been getting better since I stepped foot in the Octagon, and it shows in my progression, in my performances.”
Although it didn’t necessarily ring through in his clash with Strickland at the close of 2022, Cannonier’s focus on being more active, applying more pressure was certainly on display in his bout with Vettori.
Over the course of the five-round clash, he landed 241 significant strikes to Vettori’s 153, mixing in four takedowns for good measure.
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Not only did it establish a new record for the middleweight division, but it landed Cannonier in fourth place in terms of significant strikes landed in a fight all-time, one spot ahead of Nathan Diaz in his win over Donald Cerrone at UFC 141 and one spot behind Rob Font, who racked up 271 significant strikes in his April 2022 loss to Marlon “Chito” Vera.
Full Fight | Jared Cannonier vs Marvin Vettori
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Full Fight | Jared Cannonier vs Marvin Vettori
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And after posting historic numbers last time out, Cannonier is intent on doing it again if need be, though he’s prefer to just get Imavov out of there early.
“When the ref says, ‘Go!’ I’m gonna get in this man’s face, put pressure on him, and see how he responds,” he said, laying out his vision for how the fight plays out this weekend. “And then I’m gonna respond to how he responds accordingly, if he has a chance to respond, because I’m gonna open up on him.
“He’s gonna be real busy trying not to get hurt in there,” he added with a smile. “As am I, but I’m gonna be the more threatening presence."
UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs Imavov took place live from KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky on June 8, 2024. See the final Prelims & Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC Fight Pass!
