MMA
An Israel Adesanya rematch or Alex Pereira fight interests Jared Cannonier
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Fresh off of earning a split-decision win over Sean Strickland in the final UFC event of 2022, Jared Cannonier unfurled his blueprint for a bigger 2023.
"I would definitely like another title shot — sooner rather than later," a victorious Cannonier said in the Octagon on Saturday night.
"At this point, I'm ranked No. 3. I just beat No. 6. I believe (Robert) Whittaker and (Paulo) Costa are scheduled to fight next year. (Israel) Adesanya doesn't have a partner, (UFC) hasn't scheduled the rematch yet. So anybody above me that will get me to the title fight or the title fight is what we're shooting for."
Cannonier is right about Whittaker and Costa as they're slated to fight Feb. 11 with Whittaker currently the second-ranked middleweight. After Alex Pereira delivered a fifth-round TKO of Adesanya last month to be crowned the new middleweight world champion, the UFC hasn't announced a rematch yet. That could leave Adesanya open for a rematch with Cannonier. The two fought in July with Adesanya, the No. 1-ranked middleweight, producing a unanimous decision to retain his title at the time.Â
While a Pereira-Adesanya fight being announced could be a mere formality, perhaps Cannonier can fight No. 4-ranked Marvin Vettori, though that wouldn't fit the former's criteria of wanting to fight anyone above him in the rankings.
That being said, the middleweight division will likely take a more certain shape in the New Year.
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