Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Jared Cannonier knew he was screwed right out of the gate.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight contender broke his arm in the first round of his Robert Whittaker fight in the UFC 254 pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event last Sat. night (Oct. 24) on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.
A bout “The Reaper” would win by unanimous decision.
“That didn’t go exactly how I wanted, but my spirits remain high and I’m happy with how I fought all things considered,” Cannonier wrote on Instagram. “The very first kick he threw broke or fractured my left ulna. I couldn’t find my groove and adjust quickly to get the ‘W’ so I’ll take my ‘L’ with pride. Robert Whittaker certainly lived up to my expectations before and after the fight. Congrats mate. Enjoy Christmas and the new (baby). It was a hell of an experience to be here. Can’t wait to go again.”
The loss snapped a three-fight winning streak for “The Killa Gorilla.”
Cannonier (13-5) is currently ranked No. 2 at 185 pounds and with Whittaker (22-5) already sitting above him at No. 1, it’s unlikely the former heavyweight will lose much ground when the new rankings are released later this week.
“The Reaper,” meanwhile, may have just earned himself another title shot.