Jared Cannonier is ready to re-enter the conversation.
Cannonier (17-6) had won two straight bouts, including a win over Sean Strickland, before tearing his MCL last fall and was primed to capture the UFC middleweight title.
And then he tore his MCL.
“This is what it is,” Cannonier said, “and we're going to make it bigger and better this time.”
Before his injury, Cannonier had just been offered a fight against Khamzat Chimaev in lieu of his upcoming bout with Roman Dolidze, and a win would have catapulted him into the top contenders.
“I was originally scheduled to fight Roman Dolidze, but then I got a call to fight Khamzat in October. [Paulo] “Costa missed that fight,” Cannonier said. “I informally accepted the offer, practiced afterwards and then tore my MCL.”
A grade 2 tear required surgery and temporarily slowed his momentum, but he worked his way back.
Later tonight, Cannonier will face Nassoordin Imavov in the main event of UFC Fight Night, and despite turning 40 in March and being 11 years older than Imavov, Cannonier believes the matchup will play to his strengths.
Imavov (13-4, 1 NC) defeated Dolidze by majority decision in February, but a defining factor in this fight will be how he responds to the pressure from Cannonier. A year ago, Cannonier demolished Marvin Vetri with one of the most powerful strikes in a middleweight bout in UFC history. Somehow, Cannonier seems to get better with age.
This fight is a chance for Cannonier to show that one injury won't put an end to his title chances.
“As far as the MMA community goes, everybody here is like Dory,” Cannonier said. Finding Nemo“I'm not surprised that people have forgotten about me. And I'm not on the internet saying, 'Look at me!' or practicing for interviews in the gym.
“When fight night comes, they'll watch. They'll remember the skill and presence I bring to the Octagon.”
Injuries cost Cannonier the chance to fight Chimaev and also forced him to withdraw from the bout against Dolidze, but now the stage is his and he will return to try and reclaim his place in the division.
“Finishing with a highlight reel will boost my reputation, I know that,” Cannonier said. “I'm here to get it, and I'm going to give him everything I've got and get the win.”
