UFC middleweight contender Jared Cannonier weighs in on Sean Strickland potentially facing Israel Adesanya for the championship.
In an interview with Helen Yee Sports, Cannonier said Strickland doesn’t believe the he can beat Adesanya and only wants the fight for the money.
“Sean doesn’t even believe he can win that fight, you know? He just wants to go in there and fight and get some money. I believe I can win that fight. I believe that’s the big difference between me and a lot of these other guys.”
If Cannonier were a gambler, his money would be on Adesanya.
“Izzy is not an easy fight, you know what I mean? The way those styles match up, I don’t think Sean will be able to work his jab, his funky ass footwork, his ability to evade shots. I think Izzy is way too long. He’s a sniper. He’s too diverse, he’s too versatile for his striking. I don’t think Sean’s grappling is good enough to make it a factor, to make it as competitive. But who knows, a fight is a fight. A lot of us didn’t think du Plessis was gonna do what he did to Robert Whittaker. I wouldn’t count any man out, especially at the top of the division. All of us have the ability to go in there, protect ourselves, and also incapacitate our opponents, but my money would be on Izzy if I was a betting man.”
Cannonier lost to Adesanya by decision at UFC 276 in July 2022. He too is looking to land a rematch with “The Last Stylebender.”
https://www.mmaweekly.com/ufcnews/jared-cannonier-on-sean-strickland-facing-israel-adesanya-strickland-doesnt-believe-he-can-win
