Jared Cannonierlooks out over the crowd before the start of his middleweight main bout against Nassourdine Imavov at the UFC Fight Night mixed martial arts event Saturday, June 8, 2024, in Louisville, Ky.

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Jared Cannonier Gives His Honest Take On The Possibility Of Rematching Sean Strickland After UFC Fight Night 251

Jared Cannonier shares his honest thoughts on a potential rematch with Sean Strickland after UFC Fight Night 251

Jared “The Killa Gorilla” Cannonier has always been known for his no-nonsense approach both inside and outside the octagon. After his recent win over Gregory Rodrigues at UFC Fight Night 251, the 40-year-old veteran found himself in a familiar position: back in the win column.

However, he is facing some hard truths about his place in the middleweight division. The victory came as a welcome relief for Jared Cannonier, who had been riding a two-fight losing streak against Caio Borralho and Nassourdine Imavov. But now what? That’s the question on everyone’s mind.

During the post-fight press conference, Cannonier didn’t beat around the bush when discussing his future opponents. He expressed interest in fighting someone ranked higher than him, but also acknowledged the reality of his situation.

“I think I’m definitely going to get a ranked opponent after that victory. I would like somebody higher than me. Unfortunately, all the people ranked higher than me are either in line to get the title shot, or going to wait for the title shot, or just beat me. But, I’m not going to rule anything out.”

Jared Cannonier explains the unfortunate reality of his position at middleweight after his #UFCVegas102 win.

"Four people in the rankings ahead of me have beaten me." pic.twitter.com/O5r83Z3l4e
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) February 16, 2025

This kind of self-awareness is rare in a sport where fighters often demand title shots after a single win. Cannonier’s approach is quite different: grounded and realistic.

Also Read: Youssef Zalal Levies Serious Accusation On Calvin Kattar Despite Winning At UFC Fight Night 251

The Sean Strickland Rematch Scenario

When specifically asked about potential rematches with Israel Adesanya or Sean Strickland, both of whom are ranked above him and have defeated him in the past, Cannonier kept it simple.

“Four people in the rankings ahead of me have beaten me. And I’m ranked seventh. That means three people I haven’t fought or beaten… That being said, as long as I keep winning, Yeah!”

“This straightforward answer reveals Cannonier’s fighter mentality. He is not going to call out specific opponents or engage in trash talk. He knows the path forward is through consistent victories, not microphone skills.

Just how good is Jared Cannonier 😂

I did think Sean edged it kinda but it was close pic.twitter.com/QzVVtRw5Gw
— schwick (@schwick6) September 10, 2023

The history between Cannonier and Strickland is particularly interesting. Their December 2022 bout ended in a split decision victory for Cannonier in what many considered a very close fight. Some fans and analysts even thought Strickland should have gotten the nod. Since then, Strickland went on to capture the middleweight title before losing it to Dricus du Plessis, while Cannonier hit a rough patch with consecutive losses.

The Middleweight Landscape

Looking at the current state of the 185-pound division, Cannonier faces an uphill battle. Dricus du Plessis sits at the top as champion, with hungry contenders like Khamzat Chimaev, Caio Borralho, and Nassourdine Imavov all angling for a title shot. Robert Whittaker, who defeated Cannonier back in 2020, is coming off a loss to Chimaev but still ranks high in the division.

For Cannonier to get back into title contention, he will need to string together several impressive wins. At 40 years old, time isn’t on his side, but he has shown remarkable durability throughout his career!

(Image Credit: Timothy D. Easley/Sp – Imagn Images)

Gregory Rodrigues

Jared Cannonier

Sean Strickland

UFC Fight Night 251

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!