Jared Cannonier sees Sean Strickland avenging his loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312.
Middleweight champion Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) rematches Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) in the Feb. 8 main event at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.
The pair fought at UFC 297 last January, where Du Plessis picked up a close decision win over Strickland to become middleweight champion. Strickland outstruck Du Plessis, but it was Du Plessis’ six takedowns which helped him secure the win.
“The first one was close,” Cannonier told Sportskeeda. “I see Sean coming back with a bit more fire in his belly, but it was close last time. I think Sean did more damage last time as well. I think he’s going to take that momentum that he did more damage and really try to close the deal in their next fight.”
Cannonier was asked if he thinks that would be enough for Strickland to avenge his loss to Du Plessis.
“Well, yeah, I would say so,” Cannonier said. “If he catches Du Plessis off-balance, maybe rushing in, catches him with a nice stiff jab or a counter-slip jab, or slip-whatever, you know how he does his thing, puts him on his heels with his teeps and stuff, and keeps the pressure on, I think Sean can get it done.”
Cannonier, who holds a main event win over Strickland in December 2022, will look to snap a two-fight losing skid when he takes on Gregory Rodrigues (16-5 MMA, 7-2 UFC) in the UFC Fight Night 251 headliner on Feb. 15 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
The former UFC title challenger hopes to leave the judges out of the equation.
“I plan on knocking him out,” Cannonier said. “I think it’s going to be a TKO, possibly in the second or third round. He tends to slow down a little bit. I’m working really hard on my cardio for that not to be an issue. I plan on not taking any damage.
“I plan on being hard to hit and scoring and hitting him as many times as possible. I’m always hoping for the best. My last two fights hadn’t gone that way, but I’m always hoping for the best. I’m always working and training to improve, and to bring the best that’s in my mind into reality.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 312.
