In the last UFC event in 2022, Jared Cannoneer (38, USA), ranked 3rd in the middleweight rankings, defeated Sean Strickland (31, USA), 7th, rekindling the spark of a title challenge.
Cannoneer Streaks by split decision (49-46, 46-49, 49-46) in the UFC Fight Night: Cannnier vs. Strickland Main Event held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on the 18th (Korean time). broke the rand
Killed the jab. Cannoneer landed a leg kick to Strickland’s front leg to break the jab that started the attack. If the damage is accumulated on the front leg, the power of the jab is reduced by half because the strength of the leg, which is the support, is not applied.
Six leg kicks were entered in the first round alone. Cannoneer’s kicking power is so strong that he won a TKO victory over UFC legend Anderson Silva with a leg kick. Strickland went back to the corner with a slight limp at the end of the first round.
But Strickland did not give in. Even while leg kick damage was accumulating, he actively threw jabs and one-twos and put pressure on Cannoneer. Strickland more than doubled his lead in the number of effective hits to the head, 89 to 35.
Instead, the ‘killer gorilla’ Cannoneer had power. Cannonier mainly targeted his legs, but intermittently turned Strickland’s face red with powerful punches.
In the end, after a close battle, Cannoneer won by 2-1 split decision.
“I think I won 3-2,” Cannoneer said in an interview after the match. I’m fairly confident that I won. If you compare his face in round 1 and round 5, you can see the damage he received. I think I deserved to win,” he said.
He then revealed his hopes for another title challenge. He said, “I want to get a title shot again as soon as possible,” and demanded, “Give me a title match or a top ranked player who will lead me to the title match.”
Cannoneer lost by decision to then-champion Israel Adesanya in July. But now that the champion has changed to Alex Ferreira, there is still hope for Cannoneer.
Meanwhile, in the co-main event, ninth lightweight Arman Sarukian (26, Armenia-Russia) defeated 12th ranked Damir Ismagulov (31, Russia) and demanded a top 5 opponent.
In the divine confrontation, which was expected to be a real top 5 match among fans, Sarukian won a unanimous decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) over Ismagulov with infinite wrestling pressure. Saruqian attempted a total of 21 takedowns, successfully completing 7 and controlling them for 9 minutes and 25 seconds. 안전놀이터
In an interview after the game, Saruqian showed a relaxed attitude, saying, “Today, I only showed 50% of my skills.” “I beat my opponent with 19 consecutive wins. He is a tougher opponent than the top 5 rankers. Nobody wanted to fight him, nobody wanted to fight me,” he said, demanding a top 5 opponent.
Next year, he set his sights on a rematch with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Saruqian received a sudden offer in his UFC debut in 2019 and fought and lost to Makachev, but took down Makachev for the first time in the UFC and promoted it.
It is considered one of the hardest fights for Makachev, even now, when he became the champion. It happened when Saruqian was only 22 years old.
Sarukian, who has grown up over the next three years and eight months, thinks he is the right person to bring down Makachev from power.
“My goal is to get back together with Islam Makhachev. I gave him the toughest challenge in the UFC,” he said. “I will win a big fight and get a title shot. 2023 will be my year.