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EXCLUSIVE | Jared Cannonier Expects Derek Brunson To Wrestle, Predicts Knockout Win At UFC 271

Jared Cannonier has certainly made no bones about his game plan for his UFC 271 showdown and potential title-eliminator with Derek Brunson – predicting a knockout win over the North Carolina veteran, whom he believes will enter the Octagon with the intent of wrestling early and often. Cannonier, who returned to the winner’s enclosure back […]

Cannonier, who returned to the winner’s enclosure back in August at UFC Vegas 34, managed to secure a unanimous decision win over former interim middleweight title challenger, Kelvin Gastelum. The win kept Cannonier alive and kicking in the middleweight title hunt, landing him at #3 following a prior loss to former division best, Robert Whittaker.

Jared Cannonier currently boasts a 4-1 record at middleweight since his division move

For Brunson, the top-10 mainstay has enjoyed a certain purple-patch recently, extending his winning spree to five straight victories with a September third round guillotine win over former welterweight title challenger, Darren Till. The win came as Brunson’s second of the year, following a dominant wrestling display en route to a unanimous judging success against Kevin Holland.

Originally expected to meet next weekend at UFC 270 on January 22. – the bout between Cannonier and Brunson has been elevated to UFC 271 on February 12. – beneath a middleweight title rematch between champion, Israel Adesanya, and the above mentioned, Whittaker.

With the victor likely to challenge for spoils in their next outing, Cannonier recently spoke with LowKick MMA reporter, James Lynch, where he provided his thoughts on how a matchup with Brunson could play out, from a stylistic point of view.

“I think, stylistically – we’ve all heard that old moniker, ‘striker vs. grappler’ thing,” Jared Cannonier said. “And it’s a prevalent aspect of this fight. Pretty much, his only means of victory is to impose his wrestling. Of course, he’s got that power, he’s got that long, lunging left hand that we’re all accustomed to seeing and stuff like that so. And he’s got that ground-and-pound as well.

“I think one thing leads to another and it’s always gonna lead to his wrestling,” Jared Cannonier continued. “And especially when he fights me, it’s gonna have to be, you know – that’s it. You’re gonna have to wrestle if you wanna win a fight with me, but that’s gonna be hard, that’s gonna be a hard mountain to climb. Especially with the fact that I know he’s gonna have to wrestle me. … We’re working on what he’s gonna bring to the table. I think the game plan we’re formulating is great. I feel like we’re already ahead of schedule as far as implementing the skills, the techniques, the ability to ‘do’. The outlook is bleak for Derek Brunson as far as I’m concerned.”

As far as a prediction for the fight, Cannonier explained how he wants to create the opportunity to land a right-hand shot early, resulting in a stoppage victory.

“I envision, the ref saying, ‘Go’, we walk up – maybe we shake hands, maybe we don’t, “Jared Cannonier said. “But I’m gonna create some sort of action, create some energy or momentum and put myself in the position to land my right hand. And he won’t be able to withstand it.”

EXCLUSIVE | Jared Cannonier Isn’t Sold On Derek Brunson’s ‘Blonde Brunson’ Gimmick

UFC middleweight contender Jared Cannonier doesn’t believe that Derek Brunson’s hairstyle and perceived alter-ego will change how their fight goes down at UFC 271. Cannonier faces Brunson in a potential No. 1 contender fight in the UFC 271 co-headliner. He is coming off an impressive win over Kelvin Gastelum last August and has won four […]

UFC middleweight contender Jared Cannonier doesn’t believe that Derek Brunson’s hairstyle and perceived alter-ego will change how their fight goes down at UFC 271.

Cannonier faces Brunson in a potential No. 1 contender fight in the UFC 271 co-headliner. He is coming off an impressive win over Kelvin Gastelum last August and has won four of his last five fights in the division.

Many believe that Brunson’s five-fight winning streak has to do with his dyed blonde hair. The term ‘Blonde Brunson’ has been alluded to as an alter-ego and different form of Brunson who enters the octagon.

During an exclusive interview with LowKickMMA’s James Lynch, Cannonier said he isn’t phased by Brunson’s new image and career turnaround.

“It’s a gimmick, good for him,” Cannonier said. “He found a gimmick that will keep relevant for a little while longer. That s**t is irrelevant to me. That’s all antics, and that has f**k-all to do with me whopping [his] a**.”

Jared Cannonier Has Been Considered As The Dark Horse Of The Middleweight Division

Cannonier has been a target of middleweight champion Israel Adesanya over the past few years. Adesanya has spoken in multiple interviews about how he respects Cannonier and would gladly give him a shot at his middleweight title.

Brunson on the other hand is looking for a rematch against Adesanya, after falling to him at UFC 230. He’s been on fire since that loss, earning dominant wins over Darren Till, Kevin Holland, and Edmen Shahbazyan in the octagon.

All eyes will be on the middleweight division at UFC 271. The main event will feature Adesanya and Robert Whittaker in a title rematch years in the making, along with Cannonier and Brunson. The winners of these two fights will more than likely be in the next title bout in 2022.

What is your prediction for Jared Cannonier vs. Derek Brunson?

EXCLUSIVE | Robert Whittaker Reflects On UFC 243 Loss To Israel Adesanya: ‘It Wasn’t Me Out There’

Ahead of his UFC middleweight championship rematch with current kingpin, Israel Adesanya next month, former titleholder, Robert Whittaker has reflected deeply on his title unification loss to the City Kickboxing standout back in October 2019. Headlining the Melbourne, Australia card on home soil, Whittaker dropped his first and only loss at middleweight since, succumbing to […]

Headlining the Melbourne, Australia card on home soil, Whittaker dropped his first and only loss at middleweight since, succumbing to second round strikes against the then-interim middleweight champion at UFC 243. The loss snapped Whittaker’s lengthy 12-fight undefeated run at 185lbs.

Robert Whittaker rides a three-fight winning run into his UFC 271 rematch with Israel Adesanya

In the time since, however, Whittaker has successfully rebounded to title contention once again, and rides an impressive three-fight winning spree into his UFC 271 rematch on February 12.

However, questions have been constantly posed to the Melbourne-born technician ahead of his title re-run with Adesanya, particularly regarding a reckless approach to the 2019 title unification bout, that resulted in his championship loss.

Reflecting on the result and his performance during a recent interview with LowKick MMA reporter, Jordan Ellis, Whittaker admitted that he wasn’t satisfied with the display he turned in – regardless of result.

“That’s the over-arching feature: it’s the feeling I get moving into this next fight,” Robert Whittaker said. “It’s that, you know – I am confident, and I am satisfied with who I am, and why I do it, and what I’m doing to get to this fight (at UFC 271). That, when I get in there, I’m going to give it my absolute, 100 percent. And I will be satisfied with the result if I can do that.”

“Because I didn’t get that satisfaction after the first fight (against Israel Adesanya),” Robert Whittaker continued. “I lost, but I didn’t feel like I gave 100 percent, I didn’t feel like – it wasn’t me out there. I felt like, in the lead-up, it wasn’t how I wanted to do things. So like I said, if I can do all that in this fight moving forward, I’ll be satisfied.”

Since his knockout loss to Adesanya, Whittaker has compiled a three-fight winning run, taking unanimous decision wins against the trio of Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and in April, against common-foe, Kelvin Gastelum.

EXCLUSIVE | Robert Whittaker Expects ‘Respectful’ Build-Up To UFC 271

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker isn’t expecting him and Israel Adesanya to talk a lot of trash ahead of UFC 271. Whittaker lost the middleweight title to Adesanya at UFC 243 in front of a raucous crowd in Melbourne, AU. After getting knocked out, Whittaker has managed to work his way back to the […]

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker isn’t expecting him and Israel Adesanya to talk a lot of trash ahead of UFC 271.

Whittaker lost the middleweight title to Adesanya at UFC 243 in front of a raucous crowd in Melbourne, AU. After getting knocked out, Whittaker has managed to work his way back to the title shot and possible revenge against Adesanya.

Whittaker and Adesanya dove head-first into Australia vs. New Zealand rivalry ahead of UFC 243. While there wasn’t obvious hate and disdain between the two of them, there was surely tension and a bit of mental warfare leading up to the fight.

During an exclusive interview with LowKickMMA’s Jordan Ellis, Whittaker spoke about the possibility of lightning striking twice when it comes to the pre-fight fanfare.

“The only thing I can control is myself and my actions,” Whittaker said. “I have completely come to terms with why I do things, how I do things, and my ego certainly won’t be a problem going into the next fight.

“I don’t see myself getting affected as much. I think him seeing that he won’t try and push it,” Whittaker continued. I think we can have a really respectful fight. It’s the second fight and we’re the two biggest names down this side of the world so, yeah, I think it’ll be something different.”

Robert Whittaker Has Worked His Way Back To The UFC Middleweight Title

Whittaker has won three fights in a row since his first UFC middleweight loss to Adesanya. He’s earned three-straight unanimous decisions over Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Kelvin Gastelum over the past two years.

During this same time, Adesanya has emerged as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world and has dominated challengers to his throne. He most recently put on a striking clinic against Marvin Vettori at UFC 263.

Regardless of what happens at UFC 271, it’s clear that Whittaker and Adesanya will be directly linked for years to come. This time around, it’s all business between the two best middleweights in the world.

What is your prediction for Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya 2?

Derrick Lewis Admits ‘It Was Too Much Pressure’ Fighting in Houston Against Ciryl Gane

UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis admitted that he felt the pressure in his interim heavyweight title clash with Ciryl Gane at UFC 265 in August of last year. Unfortunately for the fan favourite Derrick Lewis, his second crack at UFC gold didn’t fall in his favour as Ciryl Gane stopped him in the third round. Some fighters […]

UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis admitted that he felt the pressure in his interim heavyweight title clash with Ciryl Gane at UFC 265 in August of last year.

Unfortunately for the fan favourite Derrick Lewis, his second crack at UFC gold didn’t fall in his favour as Ciryl Gane stopped him in the third round. Some fighters relish the opportunity to fight in their own backyard with the home crowd behind them, but for Derrick Lewis, it caused massive distress, and he believes if the fight didn’t take place in Houston, perhaps the outcome would have been different.

In an interview with The MMA Hour, Derrick Lewis described what he went through and the measures he had taken to relieve the stress of fighting in his home city.

Derrick Lewis on UFC 265 Experience

“I don’t even want to experience that ever again,” Derrick Lewis said. “It was too much pressure, too much pressure. Too much.

“To the point where I really was calling people up, let me get some weed off ‘em so I can relax my nerves during fight day. That type of pressure,” he said.

Derrick Lewis has taken on all comers since joining the UFC in 2014, with notable wins over Francis Ngannou, Curtis Blaydes and Alexander Volkov. Not to forget leading the way for the most knockouts in the promotion’s history.

The whole fight-week process of fighting in Houston seemed to affect Lewis and his performance on the night, to the point it made him reflect on his past. Lewis told Ariel Helwani the experience reminded him of an incident that occurred when he was younger when he faced jail time for aggravated assault. Lewis served a three-and-a-half-year sentence. The title fight with Ciryl Gane also marked the 13-year-anniversary of his release date.

“Never felt it that bad,” Lewis said. “Actually, before court. Before I went to court, before they gave me some time to go to prison. That’s the other time I felt so much pressure, but other than that it was the Houston card. It was pretty bad as well.

“[UFC 265] was the same day that I got out, the same day I fought. It was, like, 13 years to that day, it was the same day I was released. So I put a lot of pressure on myself as well because it would have made a great story. From the worst of times to the best of times.”

Even with the Houston event being over, it still didn’t give Lewis any satisfaction due to failing to secure gold for the second time and being reluctant to let his hands fly.

“I don’t think it was like a weight lifted,” Lewis said of his feelings after the fight. “Just real embarrassed. I felt embarrassed to fight. Felt embarrassed, I felt like I should have did a lot more than what I did. I was gun-shy the whole fight. I didn’t want to pull the trigger and I was too stationary. It’s a lot of stuff.

“I could go on and on about a lot of things that I should have done different in that fight, but it just didn’t happen, so you’ve got to just move on and just better myself. If that time comes again and we face each other again, it will be a different outcome, I believe.”

With that being said and the dread of competing in his home town, Derrick Lewis is set to face Tai Tuivasa at UFC 271 in Houston on Feb.12. Only Lewis himself will know how he will deal with the pressure this time around, and last years fight with Ciryl Gane will have to be put behind him.

“I say that all the time,” Lewis said. “I believe so, all the time. My coaches believe that as well. Everyone believes it would have been a lot different if it wasn’t in Houston. On that big of a stage and all of that stuff going on, I don’t believe the outcome would have ended like it did.”

Derrick Lewis Vs. Tai Tuivasa Booked For UFC 271 In Houston

Heavyweights bangers Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa have a fight in the works for UFC 271.

For Tuivasa, he gets his wish; and for Lewis, he gets a chance at redemption The news was reported early Friday afternoon by MMAJunkie’s Farah Hannoun. This …

Heavyweights bangers Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa have a fight in the works for UFC 271.

For Tuivasa, he gets his wish; and for Lewis, he gets a chance at redemption The news was reported early Friday afternoon by MMAJunkie’s Farah Hannoun. This event will be headlined by Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker 2 for the middleweight championship.

Lewis (26-8-1) is currently the #3-ranked heavyweight and is looking to build off of his most recent win against Chris Daukaus last month, where he KO’d Daukaus in just over three and a half minutes at UFC Vegas 45. Tuivasa (13-3), the #11-ranked heavyweight, is riding a four-fight win streak that includes three first-round knockouts.

As much potential this fight has to produce fireworks, it’s more than just that. For Lewis, he gets a chance to show out and put on the performance that his hometown Houston fans deserve. Lewis was disappointed the last time he fought in Houston, where he lost to Ciryl Gane at UFC 265 in an interim heavyweight title fight.

And “Bam Bam” gets what he wished for. Tuivasa recently stated in an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour that he’d like a potential fight with Derrick Lewis.

“I’d love to step in the cage with him one day. I think he’s a bit up from me at the moment, especially coming off his last win,” said Tuivasa. “But definitely, I would love to fight Derrick Lewis. We both have good personalities, we are the fun of the division,”

Who do you have winning between Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa at UFC 271?

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