Cannonier Tapped As Backup For Izzy Vs. Yoel

Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

Jared Cannonier may still be stuck in a lurch for the upcoming UFC 248 card on March 7th, but it’s a lurch with a potentially huge upside now.

UFC president Dana White confirmed that while Cannonier may not end up getting an opponent for the Las Vegas event after both Robert Whittaker and Darren Till fell through, he could end up in the main event should one of the participants fall out due to injury.

Middleweight champ Israel Adesanya is slated to take on the always terrifying Yoel Romero, so the backup slot comes with a chance to jump into a title fight and win a belt. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Cannonier’s original opponent Robert Whittaker pulled out of their fight in January due to a private family matter. The UFC then turned to Darren Till, but it sounds like Till is demanding more money for the fight. In typical fashion, Dana White insists Till’s ankle is injured. Till says it’s good enough to fight and just needs the right offer from the UFC.

When asked about the chances of Cannonier vs. Till coming together at the UFC 247 post-fight press conference, White didn’t sound confident.

“I have no idea,” he said. “Off the top of my head right here, right now, I don’t know the answer to that question.”

So as of now, Jared has nothing lined up but the slight possibility of a sudden title shot. And hey, if Israel Adesanya and Yoel Romero keep engaging in the high risk dance moves we just saw at their last press conference, injury certainly is a possibility.