Jared Cannonier wants alternate status for Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa title fight

Jared Cannonier has a dance parter for his return, but he wouldn’t mind a late-notice shuffle.

The UFC middleweight contender returns to competition on Oct. 24 against former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 254, which takes place at location yet to be determined. By the time Cannonier (13-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) sets foot in the octagon, it will have been a little over a year since he was last seen in action. The 36-year-old suffered a torn pectoral muscle that kept him out of commission for some time.

Now healthy and preparing for a fight, Cannonier wouldn’t mind stepping in the cage sooner than his scheduled date and said he’d like to be considered an alternate for the middleweight title fight between Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa in September at UFC 253.

“I’m ready to be an alternate, and I’m ready for my contender fight,” Cannonier told MMA Junkie Radio. “As far as my therapist, he feels more comfortable me actually fighting the octagon in October. The more time the better for the repair, so October is the time we talked about. … Hopefully with that offer, the prospect of being the alternate for the title fight, so things are happening. I’m back, hold tight, and get ready.”

Cannonier last fought in September 2019 at UFC on ESPN+18, a card he headlined with a TKO victory over Jack Hermansson. “The Killa Gorilla” is unbeaten since dropping to 185 pounds back in late 2018. Cannonier has picked up finishes over David Branch, Anderson Silva, and most recently Hermansson.

Cannonier said he can’t wait to get back in action and continue his successful middleweight campaign. He feels he’s 100 percent ready for the physical demands of world-class fighting.

“Grappling was the last ting that I re-incorporated in my training, like wrestling,” Cannonier said. “That’s how I tore the pec in the first place. On top of that, personally, I wanted to get back to punching and kicking things and doing that part of the game.

“I’ve been grappling for about a month-and-a-half now, and I could’ve been grappling way before that, but I’m listening to my doctor and to my therapist, and we’re taking things slow. And like I said, I’m back and I feel 100 percent. I haven’t had any issues with it yet, so grappling was the last thing I incorporated. That was the last hurdle. That was the last test.”