5 reasons why Israel Adesanya might struggle to outstrike Jared Cannonier at UFC 276
Current UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is one of MMA's greatest strikers. In the upcoming UFC 276 main event, he will face rising middleweight contender Jared Cannonier in a bout many expect to be a comfortable win for Adesanya.
However likely that outcome is, it is not completely out of the realms of possibility for Israel Adesanya to experience a more difficult fight than he and many others expect.
While Jared Cannonier is not the sport's most technical striker, he is a patient power-puncher who is comfortable throwing low kicks at range. This might present a more interesting stylistic match-up than pundits and fans alike are willing to admit.
On this list, the reasons why Israel Adesanya might struggle to outstrike Jared Cannonier will be explored.
#5 Jared Cannonier's low kicks
Jared Cannonier is a powerful and dedicated low kicker, having TKO'd UFC legend Anderson Silva via low kick at UFC 237. Against Israel Adesanya, his low kicks will serve him well given Adesanya's stance and tendency to lean away from punches.
Israel Adesanya fights from a wide stance, like his idol, Anderson Silva, with his lead leg a prime target for low kicks.
thesco.re/2WCBs2g
VIDEO: Anderson Silva TKO'd by Jared Cannonier after kick to the leg. 🙏 thesco.re/2WCBs2g https://t.co/Gc1mS5OKEy
However, Adesanya is yet to fight an intelligent low kicker like Cannonier. Furthermore, he often leans away from punches, pulling back at the waist before darting back in with a counter-left hook.
What most of his opponents don't consider, though, because they are not low kickers, is that Adesanya's legs are always the last body part of his to exit range.
Cannonier, though, is a consistent low kicker who pumps out his jab. With every jab and power punch he throws, he can force Israel Adesanya to lean away before punishing his exposed legs with crippling low kicks.