UFC Fight Night 216: Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland Preview, Betting Odds and Prediction - December 17
No.3-ranked UFC middleweight Jared Cannonier returns five months after his grueling loss to then-UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 276. His opponent, the No.7-ranked Sean Strickland, is in a similar boat, last losing to current-middleweight champion Alex Pereira via KO at the same event.
A win for Cannonier here should keep him in the top 3 and move him closer to a potential Pereira fight in 2023. For Strickland, a win here could get him into the top 5 or even top 3 of the division after 'Poatan' shattered his six-fight winning streak earlier this year. With longtime champion Adesanya now deposed, the middleweight division is the most hectic it's been in years.
For challengers 'The Last Stylebender' bested like Cannonier, a respectable win could get them back into the title conversation.
Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland Fight Details
Date & Time: Saturday, December 17, 10:00p.m. EST (approx)
Venue: UFC Apex, Enterprise, Nevada
Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland Betting Odds
$1,000 No Sweat First Bet
Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland Tale of the Tape
Strickland has a minor two-inch height advantage over Cannonier. Interestingly, despite the height difference, Cannonier has a one-inch reach advantage. 'Tarzan' typically employs an orthodox stance in the octagon and, as shown in his fight with Alex Pereira, is often reckless when it comes to protecting his chin. Strickland is capable of dragging fights into deep waters where his high-level cardio has secured him plenty of wins.
'The Killa Gorilla', meanwhile, tends to employ an orthodox stance as well but has used an unpredictable switch stance in the past too. Cannonier's explosive striking has netted him 10 knockout victories. A versatile striker, the former title challenger has used everything from sharp elbows to low kicks to put his opponents down.
Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland Prediction
Both fighters are in dire need of a win here to bounce back from high-profile defeats. 'The Killa Gorilla' looked strong in his ferocious KO win over Derek Brunson to start the year. However, he was noticeably gun-shy in the biggest fight of his career against Adesanya in July. While he has got the job done via decision before, it's the early rounds where Cannonier's at his strongest. The longer this fight goes on, the more it plays into Strickland's hands.
The controversial 'Tarzan' has proven to have impressive durability in the octagon. While he does possess some knockout power, he's relied more on pressure fighting in recent years to get the job done. His last three wins have all come via decision, with the most recent being a controversial split-decision against Jack Hermansson.
While he talks a great game, Strickland tends to play it safe in the octagon. When he threw caution to the wind at UFC 276, he paid for it dearly. Against the fast hands and feet of 'The Killa Gorilla', Strickland could be in real danger of a similar result occurring.
Prediction: Cannonier by TKO/KO
$1,000 No Sweat First Bet