Jared Cannonier only sees two options as next step after UFC on ESPN 29 victory

LAS VEGAS – Jared Cannonier is only willing to accept one of two options for his next bout following the UFC on ESPN 29 main event win Saturday.

In his first fight since October, Cannonier (14-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) defeated Kelvin Gastelum (17-8 MMA, 11-8 UFC) via five-round unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47). In his mind, the victory set him up for either the next crack at UFC gold or a title eliminator against another top contender. That’s all he’s willing to sign up for.

“It’s either title or contender,” Cannonier told MMA Junkie at a post-fight news conference. “It was supposed to be (Paulo) Costa, but that didn’t happen. I really need to fight. I don’t think (Israel Adesanya) or Robert (Whittaker) are going to fight until next year. So that’s what? Four, five, six months, even? Then, another three and four months after that, I can’t wait that long. So who knows, I may end up taking the fight.”

As for a timeline, Cannonier is angling for the final quarter of 2021 or the first quarter of 2022. The UFC title picture is a bit murky with the champion Adesanya and next title challenger Whittaker currently in Australia and New Zealand in the midst of increased COVID-19 travel restrictions.

If they give me a name, ‘If you win, you get the shot,’ OK. Easy,” Cannonier said. “… I will say the end of the year, beginning of… 2022. Yeah, three, four months from now, I’d like to get back in there.”

Cannonier, 37, has won four of his most recent five outings. His win at UFC on ESPN 29 got him back in rhe win column after an October unanimous decision loss to Whittaker in Abu Dhabi.

UFC on ESPN 29 took place Saturday at the UFC Apex. The main card aired on ESPN/ESPN+ after prelims on ESPN2/ESPN+.