Having shared the cage with the likes of Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya, and Anderson Silva, Jared Cannonier (17-7 MMA, 10-7 UFC) has contended with a number of the best opponents the UFC middleweight division has ever produced. On Saturday, he’ll battle one other 185-lb. standout in Brazil’s personal Caio Borralho (16-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) at UFC Vegas 96.
Since incomes a UFC contract on Season 5 of Dana White’s Contender Collection again in 2021, Borralho has remained excellent contained in the world-famous Octagon, profitable six fights in a row, together with an enormous knockout victory over Paul Craig in his final bout. He’s additionally using a sensational 15 combat unbeaten streak, having not misplaced a combat since 2015.
From heavyweight, to mild heavyweight, to lastly settling within the middleweight class in 2018, Cannonier has locked horns with a bevy of top-level UFC expertise through the years. However at 40 years of age, time is now not on the “Killa Gorilla’s” aspect, and after dropping his earlier bout to Nassourdine Imavov this previous June, a win in opposition to the rising Borralho is a should for him to stay related within the division’s utmost elite.
Cannonier: The Early Years
For the primary three years of his skilled profession, Cannonier competed solely in Alaska, the place he labored for the Federal Aviation Administration after serving within the U.S. Military. Throughout these three years, he would win his first seven fights in a row, together with the Alaska FC Heavyweight Championship.
Nearly a yr after profitable mentioned title, he was preventing within the UFC, making his debut in opposition to Shawn Jordan at UFC 182 in 2015. His first combat within the promotion didn’t play out nicely, nonetheless, because the Texas native was knocked out midway by way of the primary spherical, taking his first ever loss.
After choosing up a win over Cyril Asker in his subsequent combat, Cannonier made the choice to maneuver down in weight to the 205-lb. division. The end result was a Combat of the Night time-winning efficiency in opposition to Ion Cutelaba, whom the “Killa Gorilla” claimed a unanimous choice over.
“Killa Gorilla” Drops to 205, Then 185
Regardless of this superb first incursion into his new weight class, the remainder of Cannonier’s time at mild heavyweight wouldn’t be almost as profitable, with him going an abysmal 1-4 in his subsequent 4 fights. This included losses to opposition comparable to Dominick Reyes, Glover Teixeira, and Jan Blachowicz.
Close to the tip of 2018, Cannonier as soon as once more modified divisions, this time making his residence at middleweight. This change wound up being the catalyst for his greatest run within the promotion up till that time, with him rattling off three straight wins over David Department, Anderson Silva, and Jack Hermansson.
This trio of spectacular victories introduced Cannonier nearly to the forefront of title rivalry, main him to face off in opposition to Robert Whittaker at UFC 254 for a potential shot on the 185-lb. strap. Sadly, nonetheless, it was the previous champion who emerged victorious to finish Cannonier’s win streak by unanimous choice.
Cannonier Will get Shot at Gold and The Highway Again
Though he could have misplaced his first championship alternative, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than Cannonier made his method proper again into title talks by choosing up two consecutive wins over divisional mainstays in Kelvin Gastelum and Derek Brunson. This in the end led him to headlining his first UFC pay-per-view reverse then-UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 276, dropping a lopsided unanimous choice to “The Final Stylebender.”
Within the following two years, Cannonier had tried to reclimb the 185-lb. pecking order, yielding combined outcomes. He had managed to gather two spectacular wins over Sean Strickland and Marvin Vettori, but additionally suffered a vital TKO defeat to Nassourdine Imavov in his final look earlier this summer time.
Remaining Ideas
Going into his combat versus Borralho this weekend, the stakes now couldn’t be any increased for the getting older Cannonier. Having turned 40 this yr, he now finds himself surrounded on all sides by a myriad of younger, expert, up-and- coming contenders. Ought to he falter in opposition to “The Pure,” the setback might very nicely spell the definitive finish of his title aspirations.
