Jared Cannonier Is Ready To Replace Adesanya or Costa At UFC 253

Jared CannonierTop middleweight contender Jared Cannonier says he will be ready to step in and replace Israel Adesanya or Paulo Costa should either man drop out of their 185lb title fight at UFC 253 on September 26. Cannonier is currently booked to face former middleweight king Robert Whittaker at UFC 254 in what many assume will […]

Jared Cannonier

Top middleweight contender Jared Cannonier says he will be ready to step in and replace Israel Adesanya or Paulo Costa should either man drop out of their 185lb title fight at UFC 253 on September 26.

Cannonier is currently booked to face former middleweight king Robert Whittaker at UFC 254 in what many assume will determine who is next in line for the winner of the UFC 253 main event between Adesanya and Costa. ‘The Killa Gorilla’ though isn’t convinced he will have to fight Whittaker to earn a title shot. He believes he may get the chance to slide in on late notice later this month.

“I got my contender’s fight,” Cannonier told MMA Fighting when referencing his match-up with Whittaker. “If it wasn’t the contender’s fight, it would have been the title fight. At this point in time, it still potentially could be.

“If anything happens with those guys, I’m more than willing and ready, that’s my plan. That’s the plan I have ahead of me. I’m getting ready for that date, Sept. 26. That’s the date I’m getting ready for. If that doesn’t happen, I’ll be more than ready for Oct. 24.”

Cannonier understands that in these uncertain times it’s important for fighters to be ready at all times as opportunities are likely to present themselves at the last minute.

“Given the times with COVID-19, we’ve seen fights change, main events change, what, 60 percent [of the time] was it last year from the original booking. I’m ready. I’ve been ready since my pec tore. Now it’s time.

“That’s where I stand right now. I’m more than ready. That’s not going to be a hard weight cut. It’s not going to be a last minute thing for me. I’m going to be ready for that date. That’s just it.”

“I’m ready for that,” Cannonier said about fighting at UFC 253. “At the end of the day, I’m really glad to be back training more than anything. I have a lot of getting to the gym. I have a lot of fun working and training and learning and trying to figure out the different aspects of my craft.

“These big fights and stuff are just field tests. In my mind, bigger things are going to happen after the fights. That’s really what I’m preparing for. I’m just going to have as much fun along the way.

Do you think Jared Cannonier will get the call if Israel Adesanya or Paulo Costa drop out of UFC 253?

Israel Adesanya Wants Jared Cannonier To Beat Robert Whittaker

Israel AdesanyaUFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is hoping Jared Cannonier will beat former 185lb king Robert Whittaker to establish himself as the next in line. Adesanya will defend his middleweight strap against Paulo Costa at UFC 253 in September. ‘Stylebender’ is already looking to what’s next and he believes his next challenger will be determined at […]

Israel Adesanya

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is hoping Jared Cannonier will beat former 185lb king Robert Whittaker to establish himself as the next in line. Adesanya will defend his middleweight strap against Paulo Costa at UFC 253 in September. ‘Stylebender’ is already looking to what’s next and he believes his next challenger will be determined at UFC 254 when Cannonier squares off against Whittaker.

Speaking to Submission Radio Adesanya expressed his desire to fight a ‘new body’. He previously beat ‘The Reaper’ to win the middleweight title back in 2019 and now wants to fight Cannonier, Jack Hermansson and Darren Till next.

“I hope Cannonier beats Robert, cause I want a new body. Jack Hermansson, I don’t really mind too much. But I’d like Darren to get that one done, but he didn’t really get it done against Robert. It was a good fight, close fight, but I think maybe the takedowns gave it to Robert. Who knows. But yeah, the Jack Hermansson and Darren Till fight, I don’t really mind. But Cannonier, I hope Cannonier whoops his ass, so I can… I want to fight that guy, I like him. Same with Darren. But also Jack Hermansson I’d like to fight, but I really want to fight Darren one day in the O2 or in Wimbledon. That would be a good excuse to go to England. Go sip some tea and crumpets.”

Till seems way off a title shot after losing three of his last four fights including his last one against Whittaker in July. Despite that, Adesanya thinks they will still fight down the line and when they do it’ll be pretty one-sided in his favour.

“We haven’t talked in a little bit, but we’re cool. I mean, we know the game. Like, Darren’s a guy, I’m not gonna act like we got beef, when it’s time to fight I will fucking embarrass him. Yeah. But right now, he’s cool and I’m cool. We’re cool. Yeah.”

Who do you want to see Israel Adesanya fight after Paulo Costa?

Robert Whittaker Would Only Move To 205lbs If He Got “Sick Of Cutting Weight”

Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya teased a potential move to light heavyweight against Jon Jones but Robert Whittaker isn’t in a rush making the jump to 205 pounds himself. “We’ll see how I age,” Whittaker told MMANews, &#82…

Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya teased a potential move to light heavyweight against Jon Jones but Robert Whittaker isn’t in a rush making the jump to 205 pounds himself. “We’ll see how I age,” Whittaker told MMANews, “If it reaches a point where I’m just sick of cutting weight, then yeah 100% move up, “But right […]

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Jared Cannonier Calls Robert Whittaker’s Use Of Oblique Kick ‘Dirty’

Jared CannonierMiddleweight contender Jared Cannonier believes Robert Whittaker utilized a “dirty” technique during his win over Darren Till at UFC Fight Island 3. The former 185lb champion landed several oblique kicks on the knee of Till which has left the Englishman with terrible injuries which are likely to leave him on the side-lines for at least […]

Jared Cannonier

Middleweight contender Jared Cannonier believes Robert Whittaker utilized a “dirty” technique during his win over Darren Till at UFC Fight Island 3. The former 185lb champion landed several oblique kicks on the knee of Till which has left the Englishman with terrible injuries which are likely to leave him on the side-lines for at least six months.

Cannonier will face off against Whittaker at UFC 254 in October. He spoke to Ariel Helwani ahead of the fight and explained to the veteran MMA reporter why he is not a fan fo the controversial kick Whittaker utilized against Till, he said.

“I know he uses that oblique kick to the knee. I’m not a big fan of that technique. That is career-altering, career-changing technique. I am not a big fan of it. I’m not saying we should ban it or anything like that. You know this is the martial arts. That being said I’m not a big fan of it. I don’t use it personally because I know how dangerous it is. If I use it, you best have your next year of your life planned out.”

Helwani asked Cannonier why not ban the oblique kick, he replied.

“I’m not advocating for banning it. I’m not gonna say I wouldn’t say ‘yeah get rid of the technique’ if the argument arose. I would rather it not be in the UFC. In football you can’t knee spike, you cant dive for the knees. You can’t collar tie there’s certain things you can’t don’t. This is a sport in the UFC. This isn’t just fighting. People want to keep it as pure as they want to but as far as the sport goes you want to preserve the fighters as much as possible. You don’t want them to get hurt in the manner that they will be on the sidelines.”

Cannonier warned Whittaker that he faces serious repercussions should he attempt to use the oblique kick on him.

“Back to the technique – I don’t like it. I wouldn’t be sad if I never seen it again,” Cannonier said. “If you do it to me, I’m already in the game to try and hurt my opponents and try to do damage and try to finish the fight. If you use that technique on me I’m going to liken it to a dirty technique. You are trying to gouge my eyes, you trying to kick me in the nuts, you trying to check my oil which is a major violation right there (laughs). Trying to stomp my knee is a major violation as well and I’m going to make you pay for it right then and there on the money with a smile on my face. Don’t think I’m going to get mad about it. I aint going to get mad I’m going to get your ass back. It’s going to be major implications for anyone who wants to use that technique on me. That being said I know Rob uses that technique. So the door is open. It can be a clean finish or a savage mauling.”

Do you agree with Jared Cannonier? Is the oblique kick to the knee a dirty technique?

Jared Cannonier Targets Alternate Spot For Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa

Jared Cannonier is aiming for an alternate spot in case something goes awry with Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa. Cannonier is on tap to face former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker on the UFC 254 card on Oct. 24. One month prior, a title bou…

Jared Cannonier is aiming for an alternate spot in case something goes awry with Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa. Cannonier is on tap to face former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker on the UFC 254 card on Oct. 24. One month prior, a title bout between middleweight champion Adesanya and Costa is likely to take […]

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Robert Whittaker vs. Jared Cannonier Set For UFC 254

The UFC 254 card is getting some more beef in the form of Robert Whittaker vs. Jared Cannonier. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reports UFC president Dana White has confirmed that Whittaker vs. Cannonier will happen on Oct. 24. This all but confirms the mid…

The UFC 254 card is getting some more beef in the form of Robert Whittaker vs. Jared Cannonier. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reports UFC president Dana White has confirmed that Whittaker vs. Cannonier will happen on Oct. 24. This all but confirms the middleweight title showdown between champion Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa. White says Adesanya […]

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