Jared Cannonier, a UFC middleweight who has fought for over a decade in the UFC’s competitive 185-pound division, showed his striking ability and resilience at UFC Vegas 102. He won by TKO against Gregory Rodrigues. Cannonier showed that despite his recent win he is still a formidable force in the UFC 185-pound weight division.
Cannonier’s 40-year old fight began rough. Gregory Rodrigues placed Cannonier, who is known for having a heavy style and a strong hand, in danger by dropping him two times in the first round. It was clear that the “Killa Gorilla”, who had been struggling in the opening storm, would be seriously hurt.
Cannonier did, however live up to his reputation of being a durable and tough fighter. Jared Cannonier adapted his strategy after a difficult first round and found his rhythm during the second. Cannonier sent Rodrigues down to the ground with his devastating short elbow near the end the third round. Cannonier launched a barrage that almost ended the fight in the third round. Cannonier was on the verge of a third round TKO when the referee signaled that he would stop.
Cannonier was not slow in moving to the next round, despite Rodrigues’s third-round victory. Then he came in and continued where he stopped. Cannonier’s relentless barrage of punches forced the referee into action and stopped the fight just 21 seconds after the start of the round. Cannonier’s TKO was a major comeback. He proved that he could overcome any obstacle in the Octagon, and cemented his place as one of the top middleweight contenders.
Jared Cannonier has now ended a streak of losing two consecutive fights. He lost earlier this year to Nassourdine Borralho and Caio Imavov, two of the top middleweights. Cannonier is now in contention for a title shot in the future after his win over Rodrigues.
Cannonier stressed his resilience and ability to face danger in his interview with UFC Analyst Daniel Cormier.
“Well, I guess I was hurt enough to get dropped on my a** couple of times in that fight,” he smiled.
But naturally, so. Gregory hits hard as hell, and he was slinging big-a** shots.”
It was amazing how I managed to keep calm and stay composed, even during the most difficult moments, before getting back on my feet. “I’d prefer to die on the ground than on my back”
Cannonier also elaborated further on his thoughts during the bout, explaining that he believed he already had the win at the conclusion of the third-round. He spoke about his confusion when the fight didn’t end immediately.
He confessed, “I did not hear the bell sound at the conclusion of the round so I believed I had finished the fight.”
“I got up and I was looking around like, ‘How come nobody’s excited as I am?'”
Then they confirmed that the game was only the final round. I was like, ‘Oh, OK!’ They gave me the corner so I could continue to convey the message as they perceived it from the outside. I was holding him up against the ropes. He was injured. He was slowing himself down. The energy I had left was enough to get me through the round. “I can do it for at least five more rounds without getting hurt, or even if I have to.”
Jared Cannonier, reflecting on his experience and the value of teamwork expressed gratitude towards his The MMA Lab team, highlighting his special relationship with Jose Delgado. Both fighters fought on the same UFC APEX card in Las Vegas, and both achieved impressive TKO results.
He said, “We watched Jose earlier in the day.”
This is something we spoke into existence. “I think that he had been on a skid before the Contender series.
“I said, ‘One day you’re going to be in the Octagon. “I’m going headline a greeting card that has you on it.” Or he said it… One way or another, it was said! “And now, it has come true.”
It’s a great day for me because we both created something today.
The UFC Vegas 102 victory not only demonstrated Jared Cannonier’s striking ability and resilience, but it also cemented his place as a leading contender in the UFC’s middleweight division. Cannonier is a fascinating figure in mixed martial arts, as he continues to set his sights on new challenges. As he continues his pursuit of a UFC championship, fans and analysts alike will keep a close eye on Cannonier’s next steps.