Cannonier Vs. Strickland: A Clash Between Middleweights

UFC Fight Night returned to the APEX facility in Las Vegas last night, 17th December. It was the final event of an exciting year for UFC. The final card of UFC 2022 featured several clashes between different weight divisions.

But the talking point of the night was the fight between Jared Cannonier and Sean Strickland. Cannonier emerged victorious in this middleweight bout by a split decision.

The main event went all the way as both middleweight contenders gave it their all. As expected, the fight was decided by a split decision. And all three judges scored the fight 49-46, where Cannonier received the majority of points.

Keep reading below as we dissect how this match happened round by round.

Cannonier Vs. Strickland: A Look At Previous Results

Both contenders were looking to rebuild momentum going into this match. The previous fights ended in losses for both fighters. And a win for either would see the year-end on a positive note.

Cannonier has been competing since 2015. And he finally got his chance to win the middleweight gold against then-title holder Israel Adesanya. However, the UFC 276 bout ended in disappointment for the “Killa Gorilla.” It was a unanimous decision that settled the match in Adesanya’s favor.

On the other hand, Strickland has previously tasted victory as a middleweight champion. He had the chance to become the number-one contender earlier this year. But his meeting with Alex Pereira didn’t prove fruitful, as the match ended in a KO loss.

Both fighters needed a win to rebuild momentum and start the new year on a positive note. Cannonier has emerged victorious in three of his previous five matches, while Strickland has won four out of five.

If we look at rankings, Cannonier is in the third position while Strickland sits four steps below at seventh. Current fight records for both are: 

• Cannonier has a record of 15-6 in MMA and 9-6 in UFC.
• Strickland is 25-5 in MMA and 12-5 in UFC.

Both will look to add to their tally as their main event brings the curtains down on a momentous year.

How Did The Fight Go Down?

The main event was scheduled for five rounds. And the two Americans battled it out till the final round. It was a split decision that ended the match in Cannonier’s favor.

Both fighters started slow but productive with all their shots. Cannonier worked his way using his kicks as the advantage. Strickland worked on his jabs, looking to gain the upper hand.

The match got more intense throughout the third and final rounds. The two fighters exchanged their best shots as the match dived into the final round. Cannonier was more productive towards the end as the judges’ scorecards put the fight in his favor.

Rounds One And Two

Cannonier starts the match up, trying his body kicks and combos but falls short. Strickland tries a few jabs of his own but fails to scratch his opponent. It is a slow start, but we are still in the first round.

Cannonier lands a couple of low kicks, but his opponent counters it. Strickland catches the Killa Gorilla with a front kick and tumbles him over. Cannonier is surprised but gets up.

The round ends as the two exchange body kicks.

Round two starts as Cannonier lands his low kick and right hand perfectly. Strickland responds with his jabs that catch Cannonier off-guard. Both continue their offense, but their guard is still on. The second round ends as Cannonier lands a big right hand, but Strickland absorbs it well.

Rounds Three And Four

The resilience from both fighters continues as we move into round three. We see more of the jabs and fewer kicks from Cannonier. Strickland tries a combo, but Cannonier covers it up nicely.

The shots from both fail to produce anything. But overall, it is a solid defensive display from the two competitors. Cannonier lands a straight left hook as the referee calls for the bell.

The two fighters look fresh and look to produce more in the fourth round. The two exchange jabs and kicks but fail to catch one another. Cannonier eventually lands his kicks but needs to do more to corner his opponent.

Cannonier finally gets his combos right as he lands Cannonier upon the ropes. But Strickland takes it well. The bell saves Strickland as we move into the final round.

Final Round

It’s all to play for now. Strickland catches Cannonier with a big right hand as the final round starts. But he is not down yet. 

Cannonier lands his body shots and goes for more but fails to connect. He lands one big hook, but Strickland replies with one of his own. Strickland starts bleeding from his nose.

Cannonier looks to take advantage of this, but Strickland does well to keep him at bay. It is Strickland who responds with a big shot. Strickland revives in the final few seconds as he pours his shots at Cannonier. The bell rings, and we now await the results.

The three judges display their scorecards. Cannonier wins this fight by split decision with a double 49-46 and one 46-49 score.

It was an excellent display of resilience from both fighters. But Cannonier deserves the win as he was more productive in this fight.

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