It’s going down at 185 pounds Saturday night, as ranked middleweights Jared Cannonier and Christian Leroy Duncan collide in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman in Oklahoma City.
Cannonier (18–9, 14–6 UFC) has dropped three of his last four bouts, capped by a unanimous decision loss to Michael “Venom” Page last August. Duncan (14–2, 7–2 UFC) has won four straight, punctuated by a commanding decision win over Roman Dolidze in March.
Duncan enters as a heavy -360 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Cannonier is a +285 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 2.5 rounds.
Cannonier vs. Duncan Preview
Jared Cannonier (#10)
- 18–9 (14–6 UFC)
- 11–3 (T)KO
- 2–0 SUB
The last place you want to be is locked in a cage with “The Killa Gorilla.” Jared Cannonier has been a UFC linchpin since his 2015 debut, making a career out of aggressive striking and wrecking-ball power. A former heavyweight, Cannonier stands alongside Conor McGregor as the only two men with KO/TKO wins in three separate weight classes.
The only problem? He’s one of the oldest fighters on the active roster. At 42, Cannonier has racked up a ton of mileage throughout his career. While his chin has held up, his body certainly is slowing down. The former title challenger has lost three of his last four bouts and returns to the Octagon after nearly a year away.
Christian Leroy Duncan (#12)
- 14–2 (7–2 UFC)
- 10–0 (T)KO
- 1–0 SUB
One of the most intriguing middleweight prospects is eyeing a chance to crack the division’s top 10 on Saturday night. Christian Leroy Duncan is riding a four-fight surge, punctuated by an impressive decision win over Roman Dolidze earlier this year. Of course, that torrid stretch featured a pair of highlight-reel stoppages from the English knockout artist.
The 30-year-old “CLD” is a highly creative striker, armed with a dazzling arsenal of flying knees and spinning elbows — all of which carry one-shot power. While sometimes flashiness lures him into trouble, Duncan should be able to stay out of harm’s way with a considerable size advantage: three inches in height, two in reach.
Coming off a rare decision, Duncan will likely be going for the finish in the biggest test of his young career.
Cannonier vs. Duncan Pick, Best Bet
Let’s try not to overthink this. Duncan enters Saturday night with clear advantages in age, speed, size, activity, and recent form. He’s a -360 favorite for a reason. Although Cannonier has remained highly durable in the twilight of his career, Duncan has the heavy-duty toolkit to notch his fifth-straight win inside the distance.
