The previous UFC title challenger is hoping that it’s third times the charm for him this weekend in Las Vegas.
At 40-years-old, Jared Cannonier is the oldest middleweight contender who’s currently within the division’s top 15 rankings. ‘Killa Gorilla’ could have come up short in his one UFC title fight against Israel Adesanya but wins over Marvin Vettori and Sean Strickland saw him bounce back in style.
Unfortunately, as he admits himself, 2024 was a nasty yr for Cannonier who lost back-to-back fundamental event bouts against rising stars in Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho. He returns this weekend in a fundamental event clash with Gregory Rodrigues where he hopes to show his fortunes around.
Jared Cannonier knows that stakes that hang over his upcoming bout with Gregory Rodrigues
Jared Cannonier knows what the rating is on this next matchup that he finds himself in on February 15.
Brazil’s Gregory Rodrigues has won three in a row but after coming into this fight and not using a rating next to his name, that may undoubtedly change if he’s capable of get past the #7-ranked contender on the UFC Apex.
Cannonier is confident that he can still compete at the best level but the primary three-fight losing skid of his profession can be a difficult obstacle to return back from.
He spoke in a recent interview with MMA Junkie about what this fight means for his profession and why it could possibly be one last roll of the dice for the 25-fight veteran. “Another time,” he began. “I assume we’ll give it yet one more shot.
“I do appreciate them giving me one other fundamental event. I’m aware of who Gregory Rodrigues is, and it’s a tricky challenge.
“I’m appreciative of that, that I actually have one other challenge to beat. That’s what’s expected on this organization. I’m within the position that I find myself in because I didn’t win those last two fights.”
Jared Cannonier has quickly found himself in a possible gatekeeper spot
There’s actually no shame in Jared Cannonier losing to Imavov and Borralho who’ve ascended up the middleweight rankings as two of essentially the most in-form contenders within the division straight away.
That being said, there’s an enormous difference in losing to certainly one of those two names and suffering a loss to Rodrigues who despite being a fan favorite, has not achieved the identical type of success during his profession as of yet.
This fight is about Cannonier showing that there are levels to the division by denying Rodrigues entry into the highest 15. Just 12 months ago, ‘Killa Gorilla’ was seemingly one fight away from one other crack on the 185-pound gold but lots can change in that period of time at the best level.
