Former UFC middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier returns to action this weekend when he faces fast-rising Christian Leroy Duncan in a middleweight showdown.
Cannonier sees the fight as a chance to remind the UFC of his continued strength at 185 pounds while Duncan looks to continue his rise in the division.
While acknowledging Duncan’s athleticism and dynamism, Cannonier made it clear that he sees the wealth of experience he boasts as a decisive advantage.
“He’s quite athletic. He uses a lot of dynamic techniques… spinning, kicking, elbowing and kneeing. He’s pretty competent in everything. I think I would say I have more experience than him, which allows me to apply my techniques better,” Cannonier said in a virtual chat with Sportstar.
Instead of predicting exactly how the fight will unfold, the 42-year-old is expecting a spectacular and unpredictable fight.
“It could be a tactical fight. I could go and do my first UFC move. Anything could happen,” he said. “I definitely plan to build on some aspects of this experience. I just want to be a smarter fighter,” he added.
Despite being one of the most experienced competitors in the division, Cannonier says the desire to improve remains his main motivation.
“One of The MMA Lab’s slogans is ‘1% better,’ and that’s the goal every time you go there,” he said. I want it to be shown on Saturday night,” he said.
As for the bigger picture, Cannonier remains focused solely on the immediate task at hand.
“The goal is always to win the next fight,” he said. “I’m always looking to put on a big performance, win an award, and then do it again.”
With both fighters known for their explosive striking, Cannonier believes fans will be in for a memorable contest that he predicts has all the ingredients to be a “potential Fight of the Night.”
Streaming information:
Watch UFC Fight Night – Du Plessis vs. Usman July 19, 2026 from 5:30 am IST LIVE on Sony Sports Ten 2 SD & HD and Sony LIV.
Published July 17, 2026