UFC Fight Night 281 · Jul 18, 2026 · Middleweight · Scheduled
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night 281 Next Fight
Age 42
Height 5' 11"
Reach 77.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Switch
Age 30
Height 6' 2"
Reach 79.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Switch
Career Averages - Jared Cannonier
4.42 SLpM
49.0% Str. Acc.
4.35 SApM
56.0% Str. Def.
0.54 TD Avg
40.0% TD Acc.
64.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Christian Leroy Duncan
4.43 SLpM
57.0% Str. Acc.
2.59 SApM
52.0% Str. Def.
0.33 TD Avg
16.0% TD Acc.
63.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Jared Cannonier - Fight History
UFC Fight Night 281 · Jul 18, 2026
LOSS vs Michael Page
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 319: du Plessis vs. Chimaev · Aug 16, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jared Cannonier 0 20 of 57 35% 46 of 88 2 of 7 28% 0 0 8:14
Michael Page 0 29 of 55 52% 36 of 64 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jared Cannonier 0 2 of 16 12% 10 of 24 0 of 3 0% 0 0 2:10
Michael Page 0 11 of 20 55% 11 of 21 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Jared Cannonier 0 10 of 25 40% 12 of 27 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:56
Michael Page 0 11 of 20 55% 12 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
3 Jared Cannonier 0 8 of 16 50% 24 of 37 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:08
Michael Page 0 7 of 15 46% 13 of 22 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jared Cannonier 20 of 57 35% 10 of 45 4 of 6 6 of 6 11 of 45 3 of 4 6 of 8
Michael Page 29 of 55 52% 19 of 45 8 of 8 2 of 2 27 of 53 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jared Cannonier 2 of 16 12% 0 of 14 1 of 1 1 of 1 2 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michael Page 11 of 20 55% 5 of 14 5 of 5 1 of 1 10 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Jared Cannonier 10 of 25 40% 3 of 16 3 of 5 4 of 4 7 of 21 3 of 4 0 of 0
Michael Page 11 of 20 55% 9 of 18 2 of 2 0 of 0 10 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Jared Cannonier 8 of 16 50% 7 of 15 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 8 0 of 0 6 of 8
Michael Page 7 of 15 46% 5 of 13 1 of 1 1 of 1 7 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 10, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Michael Page

Angelo believes this is a tailor-made matchup for MVP, as his speed and karate style will be too much for the powerful but slow Cannonier. He notes MVP has outstruck everyone in the UFC, including Ian Garry, and can pop in and out safely. He is surprisingly confident in MVP.

"This is a tailor made matchup for MVP. He can dance on the outside and rush in. Jared Cantaner is powerful, but he's not fast."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 12, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Michael Page

Big Brady picks Michael Page to win by decision. He notes Page is an incredible striker with a unique style that makes him hard to hit, and he has outlanded top strikers like Ian Garry and Kevin Holland. He thinks Cannonier will struggle to take Page down, as Cannonier has only one fight with more than one takedown. He favors Page heavily in distance striking and thinks Page wins a decision, possibly a knockout. He also mentions a prop bet on Page under 54.5 significant strikes.

Page under 54.5 significant strikes (Sleeper)
"I like Paige here. I think Paige wins a decision. Potentially even knocks out Caner, but I'll say decision here for Michael Paige."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Michael Page

Connor picks Page, arguing that Page can frustrate Cannonier from range and that Cannonier is slowing down and less likely to have fight-stealing moments. He notes that Page is comfortable with boring fights and can make Cannonier look slow and cumbersome. However, he acknowledges that Cannonier's strength in the clinch could be a problem, but Page's ability to tie up after striking may mitigate that.

Cannonier opened at +115, currently +165; Page opened at -135, currently -190
"I'm still going to pick page. I think that he can really frustrate Cannonier."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Michael Page

The host believes Page's elusive striking style will be too much for the veteran Cannonier. He predicts Page will pick apart Cannonier and eventually find a knockout in the second round.

knockout in the second round
"I believe the elusive striking style of Paige will be too much for the veteran here and I think that we'll see him pick apart Canoneer and I think that would eventually lead to him finding that knockout in the …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 13, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Michael Page

The Guru picks Michael Venom Page to win by decision over Jared Cannonier. He believes Cannonier will be too technical and hesitant to pressure Page effectively, instead opting for a low-output striking match. The Guru notes that Cannonier has a history of not taking risks, as seen in his fights with Marvin Vettori and Paulo Costa. He expects Page to outpoint Cannonier with movement and occasional highlights, winning a dull decision.

Decision win for MVP; low output fight; MVP lands about 22 significant strikes
"I'm going with Michael Venom Page over Jared Cananeer. ... I think Caner is going to lose a decision and I think it's going to be a fight where we're like why wasn't Canoneir risking it for the biscuit?"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Michael Page

Zane picks Page, noting that Page is a master of body language and can make even close rounds feel like his. He believes Cannonier is a middleweight version of Josh Koscheck, a tough but limited fighter who is winding down. Zane thinks Page's ability to pick his shots and avoid engagement will frustrate Cannonier, who doesn't cut off the cage well. He sees Page as a meme fighter who can carve a path to the top of the division.

Cannonier opened at +115, currently +165; Page opened at -135, currently -190
"I think I'll take page as well. I think, I mean, this is the thing with Michael Page and why he's so annoying to fight."
KO R4 0:21 · UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues · Feb 15, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jared Cannonier 2 98 of 201 48% 109 of 215 1 of 3 33% 0 0 2:09
Gregory Rodrigues 2 93 of 221 42% 95 of 225 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:17
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jared Cannonier 0 22 of 38 57% 31 of 49 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:34
Gregory Rodrigues 2 25 of 66 37% 26 of 68 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:17
2 Jared Cannonier 0 33 of 72 45% 35 of 74 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:18
Gregory Rodrigues 0 25 of 68 36% 26 of 70 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Jared Cannonier 1 34 of 78 43% 34 of 79 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:17
Gregory Rodrigues 0 43 of 87 49% 43 of 87 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
4 Jared Cannonier 1 9 of 13 69% 9 of 13 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Gregory Rodrigues 0 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jared Cannonier 98 of 201 48% 59 of 157 20 of 23 19 of 21 69 of 161 20 of 25 9 of 15
Gregory Rodrigues 93 of 221 42% 65 of 188 21 of 25 7 of 8 85 of 208 8 of 12 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jared Cannonier 22 of 38 57% 10 of 25 5 of 5 7 of 8 15 of 30 7 of 8 0 of 0
Gregory Rodrigues 25 of 66 37% 16 of 53 8 of 11 1 of 2 19 of 56 6 of 9 0 of 1
2 Jared Cannonier 33 of 72 45% 15 of 50 11 of 14 7 of 8 28 of 65 5 of 7 0 of 0
Gregory Rodrigues 25 of 68 36% 16 of 59 5 of 5 4 of 4 25 of 67 0 of 1 0 of 0
3 Jared Cannonier 34 of 78 43% 27 of 71 2 of 2 5 of 5 22 of 59 3 of 4 9 of 15
Gregory Rodrigues 43 of 87 49% 33 of 76 8 of 9 2 of 2 41 of 85 2 of 2 0 of 0
4 Jared Cannonier 9 of 13 69% 7 of 11 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 7 5 of 6 0 of 0
Gregory Rodrigues 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

Angelo picks Gregory Rodrigues over Jared Cannonier, citing Cannonier's age (40) as a key factor. He notes that Cannonier's chin and speed are declining, and while Cannonier may have early success, Rodrigues has enough power and grappling to turn the fight. Angelo also mentions he might bet the under on 4.5 rounds if the prop is available.

under 4.5 rounds (if available)
"Gregory is the pick and if we get a four and a half round line I I might Hammer that under"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

Big Brady picks Rodrigues by second-round knockout, noting Cannonier's decline in durability and performance. Cannonier was outclassed by Caio Borralho and wobbled by Vettori. Rodrigues is younger and has power, though his own chin is questionable. He expects Rodrigues to land a big shot and finish Cannonier.

knockout in round 2
"give me Ro Rodriguez and I think he stops cider in this fight I give give me Rodriguez by second round knockout"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Feb 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Connor picks Jared Cannonier, though hesitantly. He acknowledges Cannonier has lost a step and is on a slide, but believes this is a level of fight Cannonier can still win. He points to Cannonier's hand speed, counter-punching, and ability to time counters against Rodrigues' defensive liabilities. Connor also notes that Cannonier has been competitive with top fighters like Imavov and Bahaio, and that Rodrigues' tendency to get caught by surprise makes him susceptible to Cannonier's power. However, he admits the version of Cannonier that gets big finishes might be gone, and he can also envision Cannonier getting crushed.

Connor mentions that the odds for Rodrigues have moved from -193 to -221, and Cannonier from +147 to +182, and he doesn't think the odds should be getting longer on Cannonier. He notes that the guys who have slept Rodrigues (Bruno Ferreira, Jordan Williams) are not good fighters, implying Cannonier could still do it.
"I still feel inclined to pick Canoneer though."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Feb 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

Lucrative James picks Gregory Rodrigues despite acknowledging his suspect chin, because Jared Cannonier is 40 years old and has taken severe damage in recent fights, especially the brutal KO loss to Caio Borralho just five and a half months ago. He believes Cannonier's age and accumulated punishment make him vulnerable to Rodrigues' power and pressure. However, he notes that Rodrigues gets hit often and has been knocked out by lesser fighters, so he is not fully confident. He also mentions that Cannonier is live for a KO and may play a small prop on Cannonier by KO. He strongly recommends betting 'fight doesn't go to distance' at -250, seeing value there.

Fight doesn't go to distance at -250; under 2.5 rounds at -125; small play on Jared Cannonier by KO
"I'm going to pick Gregory Rodriguez and the reason I'm doing that is because of Jared's age because of the punishment he has took"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 15, 2025 (fight day)
Gregory Rodrigues

Cannonier is on a downward slope at nearly 41 years old. Rodrigues will use pace, pressure, and power to take advantage of Cannonier's diminishing durability and speed. Cannonier has been hurt in recent fights, and Rodrigues finishes him in the second or third round.

Rodrigues inside the distance, round 2 or 3
"Look for Rodriguez to utilize a solid pace and pressure and really leaning on that power... I think Rodriguez can put a stamp on this matchup by getting a finish in the second or third round."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

The MMA Guru picks Gregory Rodrigues over Jared Cannonier, citing Cannonier's age (40), recent damage, and lack of recent knockouts. He highlights Rodrigues' size, grappling advantage, power, and youth. He believes Rodrigues has multiple paths to victory: knockout, takedown and ground control, or submission, while Cannonier has fewer options.

"I'm going to trust in Gregory Rodriguez getting this one done"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

Zane picks Gregory Rodrigues because he believes Cannonier has lost a step and no longer has the finishing ability to capitalize on Rodrigues' defensive lapses. He notes that Cannonier's tactical, non-strategic style means he gives opponents infinite chances, and with age and declining durability, those chances are now breaking against him. Zane also highlights Rodrigues' improved wrestling and strategic approach, as seen in the Brad Tavares fight, as key factors. He acknowledges Cannonier could still catch Rodrigues, but trusts the math less for Cannonier now.

Zane mentions that the odds for Rodrigues have moved from -193 to -221, and Cannonier from +147 to +182, and he doesn't think the odds should be getting longer on Cannonier. He notes that the guys who have slept Rodrigues (Bruno Ferreira, Jordan Williams) are not good fighters, implying Cannonier could still do it.
"But now I'm going to pick Gregory Rodriguez because I don't think that Cannon here is ever going to take this fight over from Rodriguez."
LOSS vs Caio Borralho
Decision (unanimous) (49–45, 49–45, 48–46) R5 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Borralho · Aug 24, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Caio Borralho 0 83 of 254 32% 83 of 254 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 1 153 of 255 60% 156 of 258 0 of 1 0% 1 0 1:59
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Caio Borralho 0 12 of 34 35% 12 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 0 15 of 32 46% 15 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Caio Borralho 0 26 of 70 37% 26 of 70 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 0 21 of 43 48% 21 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Caio Borralho 0 15 of 58 25% 15 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 0 37 of 58 63% 37 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
4 Caio Borralho 0 19 of 50 38% 19 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 0 30 of 53 56% 30 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
5 Caio Borralho 0 11 of 42 26% 11 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 1 50 of 69 72% 53 of 72 0 of 1 0% 1 0 1:54
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Caio Borralho 83 of 254 32% 57 of 206 11 of 24 15 of 24 82 of 252 1 of 2 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 153 of 255 60% 106 of 197 26 of 37 21 of 21 129 of 224 2 of 3 22 of 28
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Caio Borralho 12 of 34 35% 4 of 23 2 of 2 6 of 9 12 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 15 of 32 46% 7 of 22 4 of 6 4 of 4 15 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Caio Borralho 26 of 70 37% 18 of 53 4 of 9 4 of 8 25 of 69 1 of 1 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 21 of 43 48% 14 of 34 2 of 4 5 of 5 21 of 43 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Caio Borralho 15 of 58 25% 14 of 54 0 of 1 1 of 3 15 of 58 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 37 of 58 63% 24 of 44 10 of 11 3 of 3 36 of 56 1 of 2 0 of 0
4 Caio Borralho 19 of 50 38% 11 of 38 4 of 8 4 of 4 19 of 50 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 30 of 53 56% 19 of 37 5 of 10 6 of 6 30 of 53 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Caio Borralho 11 of 42 26% 10 of 38 1 of 4 0 of 0 11 of 41 0 of 1 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 50 of 69 72% 42 of 60 5 of 6 3 of 3 27 of 40 1 of 1 22 of 28
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 18, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Caio Borralho

Angelo picks Caio Borralho, citing his high fight IQ and slick grappling. He notes that Borralho is a 'fighting nerd' who makes smart adjustments mid-fight, and that his head is massive and hard to put out. He acknowledges Cannonier's power and the short notice for both, but believes Borralho's intelligence and size advantage will carry him.

"Kyo is going to be the pick I think this is short notice for both of them... Kyo is bigger than 6'1 he's probably 6'2 he's a big dude and his head is like a cow's head"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 20, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Cody thinks the betting line on Borralho is inflated. He notes Cannonier is a tough veteran who has fought top competition and has good takedown defense and get-up game. He believes Borralho may try to be entertaining instead of wrestling, which plays into Cannonier's hands. He also mentions Cannonier's price of +190 is too good to pass up.

"I think this number is insane... Canon ear plus 190 I bet it if it keeps getting bigger I'm gonna bet it more"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Hesitant picked Aug 22, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Daniel Vreeland is not fully confident but leans toward Jared Cannonier. He argues that Borralho's competition has been unranked and his striking volume is low, while Cannonier has proven output against top fighters. He worries about Cannonier's age and recent stoppage loss but believes the volume and experience advantage will be decisive unless Cannonier has declined overnight.

"I think that Jared is gonna neutralize the grappling and bust them up standing and I think the volume difference is going to be huge"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Caio Borralho

JP picks Borralho by decision, noting he is 6-0 in the UFC and hasn't lost since 2015. He highlights Borralho's grappling match against heavyweight Jilton Almeida as evidence of his skills. He thinks Cannonier is 40 and inconsistent. Brevin agrees, picking Borralho, praising his striking style similar to Michael Venom Page with explosive entries, and his good grappling. He thinks Cannonier will try to pressure but Borralho's in-and-out movement will be effective.

"I'm taking barho uh Bario's 6-0 in the UFC hasn't lost since 2015 and we're talking about jarro caner wanting to ragdoll people barho had a grappling match against jilton Almeida"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 20, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Paul agrees with Cody, favoring Cannonier because of his experience and plus money. He notes Cannonier is 40 and coming off knee surgery but has fought the best. He thinks Borralho might try to be aggressive to impress, which could lead to his demise. Paul also mentions that Borralho's low volume and risk-averse style might not work against a durable veteran.

"I'm favoring koner as well one CU he's plus money but two just basically everything you've mentioned he's fought all the best guys of the division"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Caio Borralho

The MMA Guru picks Caio Borralho by rear-naked choke. He notes Cannonier's takedown defense is good but he gives up his back often. He believes Borralho's back-take ability and momentum from his win over Paul Craig will be key. He also cites Cannonier's age (40) and quick turnaround after a near-finish loss to Nassourdine Imavov. He trusts Borralho's improving standup and the Fighting Nerds team.

rear-naked choke
"I'm going to go with baralo here here guys I'm going to go with the younger baralo who's not 40 31 in his prime fighting out a fighting nerds"
TKO (punches) R4 1:34 · UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Imavov · Jun 08, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nassourdine Imavov 0 64 of 109 58% 102 of 152 1 of 1 100% 0 0 6:18
Jared Cannonier 0 82 of 134 61% 106 of 159 2 of 3 66% 0 0 1:10
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nassourdine Imavov 0 21 of 32 65% 38 of 52 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:05
Jared Cannonier 0 14 of 30 46% 16 of 32 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:10
2 Nassourdine Imavov 0 17 of 32 53% 27 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:16
Jared Cannonier 0 28 of 46 60% 36 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Nassourdine Imavov 0 18 of 30 60% 29 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:57
Jared Cannonier 0 21 of 32 65% 33 of 45 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:46
4 Nassourdine Imavov 0 8 of 15 53% 8 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 0 19 of 26 73% 21 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:14
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nassourdine Imavov 64 of 109 58% 42 of 81 9 of 11 13 of 17 58 of 100 6 of 9 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 82 of 134 61% 61 of 112 16 of 17 5 of 5 64 of 114 17 of 19 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nassourdine Imavov 21 of 32 65% 13 of 23 2 of 2 6 of 7 20 of 31 1 of 1 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 14 of 30 46% 7 of 23 4 of 4 3 of 3 12 of 28 1 of 1 1 of 1
2 Nassourdine Imavov 17 of 32 53% 12 of 25 3 of 4 2 of 3 15 of 30 2 of 2 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 28 of 46 60% 19 of 37 7 of 7 2 of 2 17 of 34 11 of 12 0 of 0
3 Nassourdine Imavov 18 of 30 60% 12 of 23 2 of 2 4 of 5 15 of 25 3 of 5 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 21 of 32 65% 18 of 28 3 of 4 0 of 0 21 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 0
4 Nassourdine Imavov 8 of 15 53% 5 of 10 2 of 3 1 of 2 8 of 14 0 of 1 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 19 of 26 73% 17 of 24 2 of 2 0 of 0 14 of 20 5 of 6 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 7, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Angelo picks Jared Cannonier, citing his impressive performance against Marvin Vettori where he showed forward pressure, takedowns, and cardio. He acknowledges that Imavov is good and just dominated Roman Dolidze, but he is impressed with Cannonier's last fight. He thinks the best version of Cannonier wins, and he is crossing his fingers that version shows up.

"I am going to slightly pick Jared caner and the only reason I'm picking him is based off of that last fight"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Jun 5, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Big Brady picks Jared Cannonier to win by split decision. He notes that Cannonier is 40 but looks better than ever, with impressive wins over Marvin Vettori and Sean Strickland. He expects Imavov to have early success but fade, while Cannonier's five-round cardio and takedown defense will allow him to take over. He predicts a close 48-47 split decision.

"I'm going caner I'm going with the 40-year-old caner to get it done maybe losing the first round two rounds but taking over as the fight goes on and and winning a very close 4847 type Split Decision fight"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 5, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Cody picks Cannonier based on his proven cardio, durability, and experience against top competition. He notes Cannonier's ability to maintain high volume over five rounds, as seen in the Marvin Vettori fight where he landed 241 significant strikes. Cody acknowledges the concerns about Cannonier's age (40) and the two-year layoff due to an MCL tear, but believes his gas tank and power will be too much for Imavov, who has shown cardio issues in the past. He expects Cannonier to win a competitive decision.

"I got to go with the back class I got to go with the experience I got to go with the proven cardio The Proven durability The Proven experience the competition level all of that stuff Fades towards Jared koner …"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 5, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Nassourdine Imavov

Daniel leans towards Imavov due to his youth, speed, and improved defense since the Strickland fight. He worries about Imavov's high-energy style causing a late fade, allowing Cannonier to take over in the championship rounds. He notes Cannonier's durability and high output, especially in the Vettori fight, but sees Imavov's early movement and speed as key to banking rounds. Ultimately, he calls it a tough fight that could go either way.

"I'm leaning a little bit towards Nasser just a little bit but you know it's this is one where you can realistically see it going either way"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Jun 7, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Jacob is very confident in Jared Cannonier, stating he will not pick against him until someone beats him over five rounds. He notes that Imavov might have early success, but Cannonier's veteran savvy and cardio will take over. He predicts Cannonier wins a decision and makes another title run. He considered Cannonier as lock of the week but the odds were too close.

Jared Cannonier wins by decision
"until I see somebody beat Jared Canon there across five rounds I'm not picking against him"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Cannonier has power, speed, and explosiveness to crash the pocket and disrupt Imavov's range striking. Imavov may get demoralized when his range control fails, as seen against Strickland. Cannonier can land big shots, change levels for takedowns, and grind out a decision or even a KO. At +105, he's a solid underdog bet.

straight up at +105
"final prediction Jared cir by decision but straight up at plus 105 I think he's that's a that that's a good enough spot to take a trade bet on"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Jun 5, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Paul leans towards Cannonier but is hesitant due to the injury and layoff. He notes that Cannonier's price at plus money seems like good value given his resume, but the torn MCL and age are concerns. Paul thinks Cannonier's reach advantage and pressure will be key, and he expects Imavov to struggle with Cannonier's volume and power as the fight goes on. He predicts a competitive fight but sees Cannonier getting the nod.

"I'm still going to go with cener based off of the body of work and that you know pre-injury ability to land insane volume over the course of five rounds against some of the top guys in the division but …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 5, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

The Guru picks Cannonier because Imavov slows down in fights and lacks finishing instinct, as seen against Roman Dolidze and Buckley. He notes Cannonier gets better as the fight goes on and can walk Imavov down, chew up his legs, and work him against the cage in the later rounds. He says if it were a three-rounder he'd take Imavov, but in a five-rounder Cannonier builds into it and wins a split decision. He also mentions Cannonier looked phenomenal against Vettori and that Imavov hasn't shown he's clearly better than that level of middleweight.

Split decision prediction; says if three rounds would pick Imavov
"if this was a threee rounder I actually do take a mov to win five rounder I think caner will build into this and I think he'll actually beat imov by decision"
Decision (unanimous) (49–45, 49–45, 48–46) R5 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Vettori vs. Cannonier · Jun 17, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jared Cannonier 0 153 of 301 50% 154 of 302 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:28
Marvin Vettori 0 241 of 411 58% 257 of 428 4 of 6 66% 0 0 3:07
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jared Cannonier 0 38 of 71 53% 38 of 71 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Marvin Vettori 0 29 of 66 43% 29 of 66 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Jared Cannonier 0 24 of 50 48% 24 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Marvin Vettori 0 82 of 125 65% 94 of 138 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:46
3 Jared Cannonier 0 31 of 50 62% 31 of 50 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:23
Marvin Vettori 0 49 of 81 60% 52 of 84 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:43
4 Jared Cannonier 0 37 of 76 48% 37 of 76 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Marvin Vettori 0 32 of 57 56% 32 of 57 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:34
5 Jared Cannonier 0 23 of 54 42% 24 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Marvin Vettori 0 49 of 82 59% 50 of 83 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jared Cannonier 153 of 301 50% 117 of 257 15 of 21 21 of 23 148 of 293 5 of 8 0 of 0
Marvin Vettori 241 of 411 58% 173 of 339 39 of 43 29 of 29 195 of 354 26 of 31 20 of 26
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jared Cannonier 38 of 71 53% 31 of 63 3 of 4 4 of 4 37 of 69 1 of 2 0 of 0
Marvin Vettori 29 of 66 43% 14 of 51 8 of 8 7 of 7 28 of 65 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Jared Cannonier 24 of 50 48% 21 of 44 2 of 4 1 of 2 22 of 47 2 of 3 0 of 0
Marvin Vettori 82 of 125 65% 62 of 104 15 of 16 5 of 5 58 of 96 12 of 13 12 of 16
3 Jared Cannonier 31 of 50 62% 23 of 42 3 of 3 5 of 5 30 of 49 1 of 1 0 of 0
Marvin Vettori 49 of 81 60% 36 of 66 8 of 10 5 of 5 41 of 70 7 of 10 1 of 1
4 Jared Cannonier 37 of 76 48% 26 of 63 4 of 5 7 of 8 37 of 75 0 of 1 0 of 0
Marvin Vettori 32 of 57 56% 22 of 46 3 of 4 7 of 7 32 of 57 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Jared Cannonier 23 of 54 42% 16 of 45 3 of 5 4 of 4 22 of 53 1 of 1 0 of 0
Marvin Vettori 49 of 82 59% 39 of 72 5 of 5 5 of 5 36 of 66 6 of 7 7 of 9
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 11, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Angelo picks Marvin Vettori, trusting his chin and pressure. He notes that Vettori's takedowns and volume should be effective against Jared Cannonier, who can be gun shy at 39. Vettori lands more significant strikes and has only lost to top competition. Angelo has a half unit moneyline bet on Vettori at minus 145.

"I'm confident in Marvin here I have a money line him at minus 145. I think Marvin vittori gets it done"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2023 (7 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Big Brady picks Marvin Vettori to win by decision. He believes Vettori will implement a wrestling-heavy game plan, pushing Cannonier against the cage and taking him down, similar to Israel Adesanya's second fight strategy. He notes Cannonier hasn't faced many wrestlers recently and has been taken down in the past by Derek Brunson and David Branch. Brady emphasizes Vettori's superior cardio, toughness, and durability, and thinks he can win minutes with control and grappling over 25 minutes. He does not expect a finish but sees a clear path to a decision win.

"I think Marvin vittori is going to go out there with that Israel adesanya game plan... I think he's going to implement that game plan here and I think he will have success."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jun 14, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Cody initially gravitates toward Vettori due to his elite generalist skills, cardio, and durability, but he reconsiders after reviewing Cannonier's last fight against Sean Strickland, where Cannonier landed 141 significant strikes and proved he can maintain pace for five rounds despite his muscular build. He notes that Vettori's wrestling may not be good enough to take Cannonier down and hold him there, and that Vettori's last fight against Roman Dolidze was a close call where many thought he lost. Cody ultimately leans Cannonier for landing more damaging strikes, but acknowledges the fight could go either way and recommends betting live rather than pre-fight.

recommends betting live; mentions over 2 takedowns for Vettori but doesn't commit
"I think I'm gonna go with Cannon here"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Connor picks Vettori, citing his consistency, durability, and high output. He argues that Vettori is more reliable minute-to-minute than Cannonier, and that Cannonier's lack of a systematic approach will allow Vettori to outwork him. Connor expects a five-round decision where Vettori lands more strikes and edges out rounds.

"I'll take Vittori."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Daniel Levi picks Jared Cannonier, citing comparable volume but a significant power advantage for Cannonier. He notes Cannonier's high output against Strickland (140+ significant strikes) and believes Cannonier lands the harder shots that impress judges. He expects a decision win for Cannonier, though acknowledges a finish is possible. He also mentions Cannonier's leg kicks as a key weapon and Vettori's susceptibility to them. He got Cannonier at +100 and expects the fight to be close but favors Cannonier's power.

bet at +100, decision likely, leg kicks key
"I jumped on that plus 100 when it was available"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Cannonier lands more significant strikes over a prolonged period, similar to what Roman Dolidze did but for longer. Vettori's striking is improving but he will struggle to implement his clinch/grappling game because Cannonier is tough to keep in one spot and difficult to hold down. Cannonier keeps the fight upright, uses leg kicks and movement, and lands big shots down the middle. Vettori is very durable so Cannonier wins by decision.

"I'm gonna go with Jared Cannonier here because I feel like he can land the more significant strikes from a prolonged period of time... give me Jared cannonier by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 14, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Paul agrees with Cody, noting the line has shortened from +130s to near pick'em, which he considers sharp. He thinks Vettori can take Cannonier down but cannot hold him down and maintain position. He likes the over 2 takedowns prop for Vettori but is not fully committed. He leans Cannonier for landing more damaging strikes over 25 minutes but says anything could happen.

likes over 2 takedowns for Vettori
"I'm with you I I'm leaning towards Jared Cannon here just on Landing the more damaging strikes over the course of 25 minutes"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

The MMA Guru picks Jared Cannonier over Marvin Vettori, arguing Cannonier is more dynamic with leg kicks, body kicks, and elbows, while Vettori mostly boxes. He compares their common opponents: Cannonier held his own against Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, while Vettori was schooled by both. He also notes Cannonier knocked out Derek Brunson, while Vettori went to a decision. He predicts a 49-46 decision win for Cannonier.

"I'm gonna be going with Ma I'm going Jared can near over Marvin Victoria... Cannon here has better leg kicks than Victoria"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Zane picks Cannonier because he believes Cannonier's power will be the deciding factor. He notes that Cannonier is not consistent but has a 'get out of jail free card' with his power, and that Vettori has been pushed out of his fight by power punchers like Whittaker and Adesanya. Zane expects a close fight where Cannonier's power wins out over Vettori's durability and output.

"I'm going to stick with Cannoneer."
Decision (split) (49–46, 46–49, 49–46) R5 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland · Dec 17, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jared Cannonier 0 141 of 310 45% 141 of 310 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sean Strickland 0 152 of 400 38% 157 of 410 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:48
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jared Cannonier 0 16 of 43 37% 16 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sean Strickland 0 13 of 48 27% 17 of 57 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:43
2 Jared Cannonier 0 25 of 58 43% 25 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sean Strickland 0 28 of 73 38% 28 of 73 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Jared Cannonier 0 33 of 69 47% 33 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sean Strickland 0 35 of 81 43% 35 of 81 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
4 Jared Cannonier 0 27 of 61 44% 27 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sean Strickland 0 33 of 87 37% 34 of 88 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
5 Jared Cannonier 0 40 of 79 50% 40 of 79 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sean Strickland 0 43 of 111 38% 43 of 111 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jared Cannonier 141 of 310 45% 57 of 187 60 of 88 24 of 35 141 of 310 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sean Strickland 152 of 400 38% 126 of 365 24 of 32 2 of 3 152 of 400 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jared Cannonier 16 of 43 37% 3 of 26 7 of 8 6 of 9 16 of 43 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sean Strickland 13 of 48 27% 9 of 43 4 of 5 0 of 0 13 of 48 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Jared Cannonier 25 of 58 43% 6 of 28 11 of 18 8 of 12 25 of 58 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sean Strickland 28 of 73 38% 23 of 64 5 of 8 0 of 1 28 of 73 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Jared Cannonier 33 of 69 47% 12 of 40 15 of 21 6 of 8 33 of 69 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sean Strickland 35 of 81 43% 28 of 73 5 of 6 2 of 2 35 of 81 0 of 0 0 of 0
4 Jared Cannonier 27 of 61 44% 14 of 39 11 of 18 2 of 4 27 of 61 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sean Strickland 33 of 87 37% 29 of 83 4 of 4 0 of 0 33 of 87 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Jared Cannonier 40 of 79 50% 22 of 54 16 of 23 2 of 2 40 of 79 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sean Strickland 43 of 111 38% 37 of 102 6 of 9 0 of 0 43 of 111 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Strickland (-115), Cannonier (-105)

Round 1
It’s a striker’s delight for the final UFC match of this year, and it might be one with immediate championship implications depending on the result. Coming off his unsuccessful jaunt for the belt, the lead-fisted Cannonier (15-6, 8-6 UFC) is motivated for one last title run and has to get through Strickland (25-4, 12-4 UFC) to do so. On the other hand, Strickland’s last time out saw him get crushed by the current champ Alex Pereira, one in which he promises would be different should they meet again. Herb Dean will serve as the referee for the final UFC fight of the year, and it begins with a smile from the two fighters and an enthusiastic fist bump. The first strike that lands is a leg kick from Cannonier that bounces off the kneecap. Strickland takes notes and measures his jab, pawing it out a few times, and Cannonier bears down on him with two wide punches. Another Cannonier kick makes Strickland pick up the leg to attempt to check it, but he does not block it. Cannonier kicks high and then goes low to the calf again, and this one lands flush. Cannonier fakes an overhand right, and he lands at the end of a second one. Strickland does not bat an eye, reaching with jabs and slapping a kick to the hip. Cannonier steps through two jabs to plant a right hand on the jaw, and he closes in on Strickland as Strickland jabs repeatedly. A pair of oblique kicks land to the knee for Cannonier, and Strickland starts getting in his groove of jabs and short arcing lefts. “The Killa Gorilla” hits air when he launches an overhand right, and Strickland sees it coming and dodges a second. Cannonier plants the ball of his foot on the ribcage, and he backs Strickland up and cannot quite get around the guard or connect cleanly with a kick. Cannonier kicks to the side, and it gets caught. Strickland tosses Cannonier down to the floor, and Cannonier muscles his way back up without staying grounded. They both get back to their feet, and Strickland holds his man from behind while smacking him with right hands. Strickland does not go after a takedown, and he bails on the clinch when Cannonier turns around. Cannonier slowly walks forward, and he fakes with an overhand right and smashes his shin into the calf. Strickland takes a funny step and retreats, and he measures his jab to fluster the advancing Alaskan. A kick from Cannonier careens off the guard, and he fires one off with the other leg to the calf. One more on the inside makes Strickland preemptively pick up his lead leg, possibly showing that the kicks are bothering him. He skates out of the way of an advancing Cannonier, who cannot catch him with a power blow before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cannonier
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Cannonier
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Cannonier

Round 2
The middleweights touch ‘em up to start Round 2, and Cannonier delivers a leg kick home to begin. The kicks, and faked kicks, are making Strickland flinch. Cannonier winds up with a kick to the body, and when it gets caught, he is thrown to the mat again. Cannonier somersaults away and gets to his feet before Strickland can bear down on him and grab him, and they resume in the center of the cage. Strickland flashes out several jabs, and Cannonier is more reliant on power punches and kicks. Strickland dances out of the way when a right hand comes his direction, and he times the lunges of “The Killa Gorilla” with sharp jabs. The jab pace from Strickland increases as he sticks it on Cannonier’s face again and again, and he keeps it busy to not let Cannonier crowd him. Cannonier reaches the body with a right hand, and it is one-and-done while Strickland keeps jabbing him. Two heavy leg kicks find their target on the calf, and the second, Strickland swings his leg with it to take some of the sting out of it. Cannonier keeps beating on that left leg, forcing Strickland to start thinking about switching stances. Cannonier swings with all his might and comes up short with a haymaker of a right hand, and Strickland sees it and evades it. Cannonier fires another, and the left to set it up is the one that connects while the overhand right whiffs. Strickland sticks his man with a jab and a right hand, and he splits the guard with repeated jabbing. Cannonier cannot find the spot with his right hand, and they start talking to each other as Cannonier tells his foe to sit still. Cannonier kicks low and punches high, and the first lands while the second misses. “Tarzan” remains composed, swinging from side to side and dodging most of the power strikers while peppering the lunging Cannonier. As if we were shot out of a cannon, Cannonier charges, and his punches would blow back the hair if Strickland had any. Strickland keeps his distance and pops Cannonier with a few more lengthy punches until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Strickland
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Strickland
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Strickland

Round 3
Cannonier flicks his hand out to receive the half-hearted glove touch, and they pick up right where they left off, with Strickland imposing his jab-heavy game plan. Cannonier lightly oblique kicks the knee, and he gets stunned by a piston-like jab from Strickland. Cannonier connects with a solid leg kick, and he jabs to the midsection. Strickland splits the guard with a few more jabs and a push kick as well, and he starts to follow his jabs with slapping right hands on the side of the head. Cannonier kicks the body, and it hits the block without issue. A Cannonier overhand is blocked, and he kicks on the other side suddenly to slip beneath the guard. Strickland continues to fluster the power puncher with his effective jabs, and Cannonier cannot quite bridge the gap to land with his overhand right. “The Killa Gorilla” goes after the lead leg again, and Strickland’s expression has not changed one iota even while battling it out against a heavy striker. Cannonier finds the end of a right hand, and he chains another left hook into a right hand that knocks Strickland back into the wall. Strickland walks it off and continues to pepper with jabs, and he chains four punches together to drive Cannonier back. Cannonier loads up with two power blows, but he misses the mark cleanly by a matter of inches. Settling for a leg kick, Cannonier maintains a relatively high guard to anticipate the jabs that come. Strickland successfully checks a swinging leg kick, and he pecks at Cannonier with punches in small bunches. Cannonier swings for the bleachers and nearly ends up in the stands after missing with his powerful blows, and they begin to start chatting again. Cannonier targets the body with straighter lefts, and Strickland actively jabs comfortably. Cannonier scores at the end of a left hand, and the close round ends. It would not be surprising if judges possibly had it three rounds in favor of either man now.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Strickland
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Strickland
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Strickland

Round 4
Between rounds, Strickland’s coach slaps him in the face to get him going, as if Strickland weren’t already dealing with enough strikes coming his way. The top middleweights move into the championship rounds actively throwing hands, and Cannonier continues to press forward while Strickland is comfortable fighting off his back foot with jabs peppering his foe. Strickland gets off a trio of punches and a kick to the body, and he is answered with a leg kick that makes him pick it up ever so briefly. Cannonier walks through a jab to throw, but he does not swing it, just eating punches for nothing. Strickland powerfully checks another kick and plants two punches on the chin, and Cannonier is stalled out in front of his foe who is now starting to walk him down. Cannonier takes three clean punches that sting him, and he shakes it out but does not throw back. The jab has neutralized the offense for the last minute or two, and he connects with a one-two to decent effect. Cannonier sinks in an inside leg kick after a lull in offense, and he wings a heavy blow that glances off the shoulder. Strickland’s footwork and head movement keep him safe from harm when his jab does not keep Cannonier off of him. Strickland gets off a short left hand to drive Cannonier away, and he whips a high kick up and has a front kick graze off the jaw. Cannonier loads up with an overhand right and gets knocked back with a right hand for his handiwork. Cannonier takes a couple jabs on the jaw in an effort to march through then and throw hands, but Strickland sees them coming and moves. Strickland wraps his hands around the guard, and Cannonier finally finds his intended target with a few power punches. Strickland ties him up after absorbing the heavy shots, and he backs up against the wall and smiles. Strickland scores in response, and Cannonier comes at him right to the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Strickland
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Cannonier
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Strickland

Round 5
The last round of the last fight of the UFC this year is on, and the coaches are extremely fired up and trying to channel their energy to their fighters, not knowing how the judges are scoring this fight. Cannonier lashes out with a low kick, and Strickland pins a few punches on the chin with a little more heat on them. While jabbing and parrying, Strickland throws a little harder at his opponent. Cannonier jabs the body and hand-fights to find a way in, and he scores a left hand. Strickland staggers him with a few right hands over the top, and Cannonier talks to him and tells him to stand in front of him and trade. Cannonier swings hammers, and Strickland sticks and moves with a double jab and a right hand down the pipe. Cannonier rings his man’s bell with a right hand on the temple, and he snaps the head back with another as Strickland has to blink it out. “Tarzan” recovers and pushes out jabs and a short combo, and he absorbs a low kick on the way back. Cannonier unloads with two big punches that knock the head around, ignoring the jab so that he can connect cleanly. This second land from Cannonier wakes Strickland up, who strings together a lengthy combination as his nose begins to bleed. Strickland gets back into his jab-heavy approach, swatting away the punches that zoom past him. Cannonier sets up a jab and chain a right hand into it, and Strickland is getting marked up as Cannonier is ignoring jabs to strike. Cannonier swings with a back fist that goes wide, and he loads up on a left that breezes past the chin. The final minute begins with a brief brawl, and Cannonier strikes and gets knocked back by the responsive salvo. Strickland walks into a winging left hand and still stays composed sticking out jabs, and he catches an overswinging Cannonier with a few strikes. They both put big power into their strikes, and they throw fire in the form of punches, kicks and anything else they can muster until the bitter end. Neither man goes down, and they have reached the final bell. It truly could go either way. It was a fight. With this event in the books, we have reached the end of the year, with 42 UFC fight cards carrying on across 2022. Our next play-by-play will run on Jan. 14 in what could be a fun Fight Night event with a fantastic co-main event. Thank you for joining us this year on all of the action that the UFC has had to put on. We will be here for the next year, and we hope you are too.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cannonier (48-47 Strickland)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Strickland (48-47 Strickland)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Cannonier (48-47 Strickland)

The Official Result
Jared Cannonier def. Sean Strickland via Split Decision (49-46, 46-49, 49-46)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Angelo picks Jared Cannonier, believing he is the more dangerous, stronger, and faster fighter. He thinks Cannonier has a good enough chin to handle Strickland's arm punches but needs to pick up the volume. He notes that if Cannonier lets his hands go, it could be one-sided, but if not, he could get jabbed to death. He considers Strickland overrated.

"I think Jared can win this fight he has a good enough chin to not have issues with the arm punches but he's gonna need to pick up the volume"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Dec 15, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Big Brady picks Cannonier, liking his power and expecting Strickland to stand and trade. He notes Strickland said he has no game plan and will just walk forward and brawl. He thinks Cannonier will have 25 minutes to land a big shot, especially since Strickland was recently knocked down. He predicts Cannonier wins by knockout, possibly in any round.

Cannonier wins by KO
"I'll take Cannon here to win I'll take Hannah near to win by really could be in any round I'll take anyone by knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 14, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sean Strickland

Cody picks Strickland, believing he can execute a 25-minute game plan with high volume. He argues Strickland learned from the Pereira loss and can be smarter against Cannonier. He doesn't see Cannonier as an elite finisher like Pereira, so Strickland's durability and volume should earn a decision.

Strickland by decision plus 200
"I decided to go the other way and take Sean Strickland... I'm picking Sean Strickland but I don't necessarily think he's going to finish your kid in here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 17, 2022 (fight day)
Sean Strickland

Strickland's style is better suited for Cannonier than for a taller fighter like Alex Pereira. Cannonier's knockout power is overrated due to Strickland's recent KO loss, but Strickland's pressure and volume should wear on Cannonier as the fight goes on. Expect close first two rounds, then Strickland pulls away. Strickland's durability and pace are key.

2.28 units at -114
"I think that this is a solid fight for him uh you know I think Cannon your strike or knockout power um or at least knockout threat in this matchup is being a tad bit over exaggerated due to the …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 14, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Paul picks Cannonier because he believes Strickland needs to fight a perfect fight to win, while Cannonier can land a bomb. He notes Cannonier has five-round experience and cardio, and lands more damaging shots. He took Cannonier at plus money, acknowledging it's not a lock but his side.

Cannonier plus 100
"I actually took uh Jared Cannon near plus 100 is one of the few remaining plus plus money Wagers on the board right now"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 13, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

The MMA Guru picks Jared Cannonier over Sean Strickland, predicting a second-round KO. He believes Strickland is too basic and readable on the feet, and Cannonier will find his chin with hooks over the jab. He notes Cannonier's reach advantage and leg kicks, and compares Strickland's vulnerability to Alex Pereira's striking. He thinks Cannonier is the next best contender after Whittaker and Adesanya, and that Strickland is not elite at middleweight.

round 2 KO
"I'm definitely going to be going with Jared Cannon here who I believe also has a reach Advantage"
LOSS vs Israel Adesanya
Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 50–45) R5 5:00 · UFC 276: Adesanya vs. Cannonier · Jul 02, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Israel Adesanya 0 116 of 230 50% 163 of 277 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 0 90 of 157 57% 141 of 217 0 of 4 0% 0 0 4:14
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Israel Adesanya 0 22 of 48 45% 22 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 0 18 of 28 64% 18 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Israel Adesanya 0 28 of 48 58% 28 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 0 19 of 31 61% 19 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Israel Adesanya 0 17 of 35 48% 35 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 0 17 of 36 47% 38 of 62 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:29
4 Israel Adesanya 0 24 of 45 53% 40 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 0 16 of 36 44% 31 of 55 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:18
5 Israel Adesanya 0 25 of 54 46% 38 of 67 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 0 20 of 26 76% 35 of 41 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:27
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Israel Adesanya 116 of 230 50% 60 of 165 26 of 31 30 of 34 114 of 226 2 of 4 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 90 of 157 57% 36 of 89 32 of 40 22 of 28 78 of 143 12 of 14 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Israel Adesanya 22 of 48 45% 7 of 29 6 of 8 9 of 11 22 of 48 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 18 of 28 64% 1 of 6 6 of 8 11 of 14 18 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Israel Adesanya 28 of 48 58% 12 of 32 9 of 9 7 of 7 28 of 47 0 of 1 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 19 of 31 61% 6 of 15 9 of 11 4 of 5 19 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Israel Adesanya 17 of 35 48% 9 of 26 4 of 4 4 of 5 17 of 34 0 of 1 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 17 of 36 47% 7 of 22 6 of 8 4 of 6 9 of 27 8 of 9 0 of 0
4 Israel Adesanya 24 of 45 53% 15 of 34 5 of 7 4 of 4 24 of 45 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 16 of 36 44% 8 of 27 6 of 7 2 of 2 14 of 33 2 of 3 0 of 0
5 Israel Adesanya 25 of 54 46% 17 of 44 2 of 3 6 of 7 23 of 52 2 of 2 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 20 of 26 76% 14 of 19 5 of 6 1 of 1 18 of 24 2 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Israel Adesanya

Angelo picks Israel Adesanya, citing his superior speed, technique, and counter-striking. He notes that Cannonier offers no takedown threat, making it a pure kickboxing match where Izzy is the better kickboxer. He acknowledges Cannonier's power but believes Izzy's defense and timing will prevail.

"I like izzy to win this fight but it will be very interesting to see what happened if jared lands clean"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 28, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Israel Adesanya

Big Brady is confident in Israel Adesanya, citing his size, speed, and striking advantage. He believes Cannonier has no clear path to victory, as wrestling is unlikely and striking on the outside favors Adesanya. He predicts a decision win, possibly a late finish if Cannonier rushes.

Adesanya by decision
"adasanya i'll say adasanya by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 29, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Israel Adesanya

Cody believes Adesanya is the cleaner striker and will manage range effectively. He notes Cannonier tends to wait on his punches and doesn't throw high volume, which will allow Adesanya to dictate the pace. He sees a decision victory or late stoppage as likely.

Adesanya over 76.5 significant strikes on PrizePicks
"I think he's going to be cleaner more polished stand up and uh you know on route to likely a decision Victory or maybe like a late stoppage"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 30, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Israel Adesanya

Daniel Levi picks Israel Adesanya to win, citing his superior range, stance switching, and fight IQ. He notes that Adesanya's fainting game and variety of strikes make him difficult to deal with, and that Cannonier's only path is to capitalize on Adesanya's occasional defensive lapses. Levi acknowledges Cannonier's power and durability but believes Adesanya's technical edge will prevail. He mentions the line is about right and sees no value in betting at -500.

Line is about right; no value at -500; would have been interested at -300 to -400 for a parlay.
"on paper i mean you gotta favor izzy... the pick is easy"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 1, 2022 (1 day before fight)
Israel Adesanya

Adesanya is faster and more technical. Cannonier's path to victory is a KO, but Adesanya's defense and movement make that unlikely. Cannonier is not a proactive grappler and doesn't have exceptional cardio. Adesanya should win a decision, possibly a late finish.

Adesanya wins in round 4/5 or decision +115
"i think arizona wins no real resistance here in my opinion"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 29, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Israel Adesanya

Paul thinks the line is too wide but still expects Adesanya to win. He highlights Adesanya's leg kicks and movement to stay out of danger, and notes Cannonier lacks the wrestling to exploit Adesanya. He sees a decision win but won't bet at -500.

Adesanya over 76.5 significant strikes on PrizePicks
"I don't think Jared Cannonier is a complete sitting duck in this spot... but I do think he wins"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 27, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Israel Adesanya

The MMA Guru picks Israel Adesanya to win by TKO in the fourth round. He believes Adesanya's leg kicks and range will be key, and that Cannonier, at 38, will take risks when behind on the scorecards, leading to a counter shot finish. He notes Cannonier's forearm injury from blocking kicks and expects Adesanya to capitalize.

fourth round TKO
"i'm gonna be going with israel to sanyo winning this one by fourth round tko"
Christian Leroy Duncan - Fight History
SCHED vs Jared Cannonier
UFC Fight Night 281 · Jul 18, 2026
WIN vs Roman Dolidze
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Evloev vs. Murphy · Mar 21, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Roman Dolidze 0 10 of 34 29% 40 of 94 3 of 4 75% 0 0 7:07
Christian Leroy Duncan 0 54 of 99 54% 78 of 125 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:08
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Roman Dolidze 0 2 of 6 33% 3 of 7 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:33
Christian Leroy Duncan 0 16 of 29 55% 23 of 36 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:37
2 Roman Dolidze 0 5 of 19 26% 9 of 24 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:33
Christian Leroy Duncan 0 20 of 44 45% 28 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:31
3 Roman Dolidze 0 3 of 9 33% 28 of 63 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:01
Christian Leroy Duncan 0 18 of 26 69% 27 of 35 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Roman Dolidze 10 of 34 29% 8 of 31 0 of 0 2 of 3 9 of 33 1 of 1 0 of 0
Christian Leroy Duncan 54 of 99 54% 18 of 52 6 of 12 30 of 35 51 of 92 1 of 4 2 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Roman Dolidze 2 of 6 33% 2 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
Christian Leroy Duncan 16 of 29 55% 5 of 17 2 of 3 9 of 9 13 of 24 1 of 2 2 of 3
2 Roman Dolidze 5 of 19 26% 4 of 18 0 of 0 1 of 1 4 of 18 1 of 1 0 of 0
Christian Leroy Duncan 20 of 44 45% 6 of 24 3 of 5 11 of 15 20 of 42 0 of 2 0 of 0
3 Roman Dolidze 3 of 9 33% 2 of 7 0 of 0 1 of 2 3 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
Christian Leroy Duncan 18 of 26 69% 7 of 11 1 of 4 10 of 11 18 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Angelo picks Christian Leroy Duncan because of his speed, athleticism, and striking advantage. He notes Roman Dolidze is a world champion grappler but doesn't always use his wrestling and has poor fight IQ. He is not betting on this fight because Roman can be dangerous on any given day and CLD is not a genius himself.

avoiding betting; Roman Dez inside distance no action bet screwed him last time
"I got to pick CLLD. I think the speed's going to be a big difference. I think the athleticism is going to be a big difference, but I'm not going to bet on this because I recognize how good Roman …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 16, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Big Brady confidently picks Christian Leroy Duncan, noting that Duncan is seven years younger, much quicker, and has more variety on the feet. He points out that Roman Dolidze looked bad in his last fight against Fluffy Hernandez and doesn't wrestle enough (less than one takedown per 15 minutes). He thinks Duncan will pick apart Dolidze over 15 minutes and win a decision, as Dolidze is tough but unlikely to get the fight to the ground.

Christian Leroy Duncan by decision
"I kind of think Duncan's going to style a little bit here. Give me Duncan to win this fight and win it by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 18, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Cody agrees, citing Duncan's dynamic striking and Dolidze's susceptibility to speed. He expects a finish or clear decision for Duncan.

"I got Christian Leroy Duncan minus 500."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Mar 19, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Connor picks Duncan but is hesitant, agreeing with Zane that the fight could be ugly. He notes that Duncan has a 'meme fighter' aura and can look like a killer in bursts, but lacks a clear idea of how to win rounds. Connor points out that Dolidze is a big, strong galoot who is happy to hold opponents against the fence. He thinks the odds are too wide and calls it more of a coin flip.

Duncan opened at -300, currently -500; Dolidze opened at +215, currently +385.
"I don't understand what the odds are on this. Honestly, like Christian Leroy Duncan got out worked by Armand Petrosian... And like I would pick Roman Dolidze to beat Armand Petrosian."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Mar 17, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Daniel Vreeland picks Christian Leroy Duncan to win by knockout. He highlights Duncan's athleticism, speed, and recent improvements, while noting Dolidze is older and slower. He expects Duncan to land at will and eventually finish Dolidze.

"I think that Christian Leroy Duncan is going to have his breakout performance against Roman Lee."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Mar 18, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Daniel is high on CLD, believing his speed and athleticism will be too much for Dolidze. He thinks CLD will have a breakout performance and knock Dolidze out, giving him his first real knockout loss. He notes Dolidze's gas tank issues and CLD's improved fight IQ.

"I think that the speed difference here, Marlo, is going to be like, 'Oh, man. Like oh, shit.' And I think that Saturday night this will be CLD's breakout and coming-out performance."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Confident picked Mar 20, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Duncan is a favorable stylistic matchup for the British fighter. Dolidze is old, slow, and flat-footed; Duncan is fast, athletic, and accurate. Duncan should dominate on the feet and win easily. The price is too steep to bet, but Duncan should win comfortably.

Under 2.5 rounds is interesting; Duncan -3.5 fight spread at 1.50 is worth considering.
"I think he dances around Ledezma and lights him up in this fight."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

James picks Christian Leroy Duncan, believing he is the much better striker and will knock out Roman Dolidze. He notes that Dolidze is not a great wrestler and will struggle to take Duncan down. He thinks Duncan's dynamic strikes and clinch work will be too much.

"Christian Leroy Duncan is going to knock out Roman Ditz this weekend in my opinion."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Mar 17, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

The host picks Christian Leroy Duncan by knockout but is hesitant due to the wide line. He notes Duncan's improved clinch game and knockout power, but warns that Dolidze's pressure and toughness could cause Duncan to break mentally. He expects Duncan to land big shots and get the KO, but advises caution.

"I'm going to go Duncan. Duncan by knockout, but just be a little bit skeptical about what Delise could potentially do to Duncan here."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 18, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Paul sees Duncan as the younger, faster fighter heading in the right direction, while Dolidze is declining. He expects Duncan to win by KO or decision.

"I'm going with CLD. Christian Leroy Duncan. It's exactly like you said. It's two guys headed in opposite directions."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 19, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

The MMA Guru picks Christian Leroy Duncan to finish Roman Dolidze in round two or three. He praises Duncan's chin, composure, and dynamic striking, noting he took big shots from Gregory Rodrigues. He criticizes Dolidze as a plodding, technical grappler who was outgrappled by Anthony Hernandez. He expects Duncan to win the low kick battle, defend takedowns, and land a brutal combination.

finish in round two or three
"I think he'll get a brutal finish over Roman Dizzy in round two or three."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Mar 19, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Zane picks Duncan but is hesitant, noting several ways the fight could be terrible. He believes Duncan is a better striker and has 70% takedown defense, which should be enough against Dolidze's poor wrestling. However, he worries that Dolidze's strength and clinch work could lead to a grinding fight. Zane sees Duncan's path to a showcase win but acknowledges Dolidze is a tough, strong fighter who can make it ugly.

Duncan opened at -300, currently -500; Dolidze opened at +215, currently +385.
"I think I'm going to take Duncan, but like I said, I can see, like, three or four, three ways this fight could just be terrible."
WIN vs Marco Tulio
KO R2 3:20 · UFC Fight Night: Bonfim vs. Brown · Nov 08, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Christian Leroy Duncan 1 23 of 46 50% 40 of 66 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:10
Marco Tulio 0 27 of 57 47% 42 of 75 2 of 5 40% 0 0 2:33
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Christian Leroy Duncan 0 8 of 18 44% 13 of 26 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:01
Marco Tulio 0 8 of 17 47% 15 of 25 2 of 4 50% 0 0 2:31
2 Christian Leroy Duncan 1 15 of 28 53% 27 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
Marco Tulio 0 19 of 40 47% 27 of 50 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Christian Leroy Duncan 23 of 46 50% 11 of 27 3 of 7 9 of 12 20 of 43 1 of 1 2 of 2
Marco Tulio 27 of 57 47% 13 of 36 3 of 7 11 of 14 22 of 49 5 of 8 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Christian Leroy Duncan 8 of 18 44% 3 of 8 1 of 4 4 of 6 7 of 17 0 of 0 1 of 1
Marco Tulio 8 of 17 47% 2 of 9 1 of 2 5 of 6 6 of 13 2 of 4 0 of 0
2 Christian Leroy Duncan 15 of 28 53% 8 of 19 2 of 3 5 of 6 13 of 26 1 of 1 1 of 1
Marco Tulio 19 of 40 47% 11 of 27 2 of 5 6 of 8 16 of 36 3 of 4 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Marco Tulio
BETTING PREVIEW | ODDS : Tulio (-190); Duncan (+160)

Round 1
Knockout rates of 70% or higher for these two middleweights means that referee Mark Smith will need to be ready at a moment’s notice. Of the two men setting foot in the cage next, Duncan (12-2, 5-2 UFC) has earned a higher stoppage rate but has fewer overall wins inside the distance compared to Chute Boxe Diego Lima product Tulio (14-1, 2-0 UFC). Smith steps back after clocking the athletes in, allowing them to tap gloves before engaging.
Duncan has his hands down as he moves to the center of the cage, offering a pair of stomp kicks and a sudden jump knee. Tulio scoots out of the way and drills the lead leg of the Brit several times. Duncan throws back with his own hard calf kick, and he spins with an elbow that splits Tulio’s forehead open. Tulio quickly ties him up to prevent his dynamic offense from coming forth, and he trips Duncan and puts him on his seat. Tulio smothers from on top, imposing his weight as Duncan turns to his knees. Tulio tries to spin on the break, but Duncan bails on it and swings for the bleachers. Tulio throws back hammers, and Duncan crashes forward and blasts him in the face with an overhand right. He spins with a back elbow, and it skims the top of the head as Tulio clinches him.
Tulio squeezes on Duncan against the wire while his fingers are hooked in the chain links, allowing him to sneakily hold Duncan until Duncan explodes to turn him around. Shoulder strikes from Duncan land with audible thuds, and he tries to trip Tulio out like Tulio got him before. Tulio redirects his effort and nearly gets off his own, but he lets it go so he can elbow the Brit in the face. The two split apart, and Duncan runs at the Brazilian with his foot flying. Duncan’s subsequent spinning wheel kick allows Tulio to bowl him over to the mat. Duncan twists before a choke can materialize, and he stands up and lifts Tulio to slam him down with 30 seconds left in the round. Duncan puts himself in side control and then relocates himself to full mount, where he elbows Tulio on the side of the head and rides out back control when Tulio turns until the round wraps.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Duncan
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Duncan
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Duncan

Round 2
The middleweights touch gloves, and then let go simultaneous low kicks that results in their shins clashing. Duncan circles around, flustering the Brazilian with a varied offense that range from flying kicks to spinning strikes and haymakers that could knock down a building. Tulio settles himself down and pierces the pocket with a right hand that cuts Duncan’s left eye. Tulio walks Duncan down with constant pressure and lays into him, keeping him from getting off much wild offense. Duncan still manages to get going, pawing at his bloodied eye and lashing out with swinging fists until the two result clinched up against the wall. Tulio wants to take the fight down, and Duncan stonewalls him. Tulio stays tightly pressed on his man while letting go with short strikes, and Smith is watching on as they break apart.
Duncan’s immediate offense results in another quick tie-up, and Tulio’s first effort to throw the Brit down fails. They offer alternating jabs, and Duncan spins with a back fist and slips when resetting.
Duncan sees the success of the blow and stutter-steps to delay firing off another spinning back fist. The strike connects square on Tulio’s nose, sending him staggering back. Duncan knows his man is in trouble and walks him down with a fierce, straight left and a monstrous right that completely deprives Tulio of all of his senses. Tulio slumps to the mat, already unconscious, but Smith is still trying to get between them.
This allows Duncan to hammer down one final, devastating right hand while Tulio is off dreaming, to fully punctuate the contest. Tulio lays on his stomach lifelessly for a seemingly long time, until medical professionals tend to him and he revives. The triumphant Duncan has reached rarified air, becoming one of a small number of athletes to record multiple stoppage wins in the Octagon by spinning strikes. He joins names like Dennis Siver, Molly McCann and the upcoming Muslin Salikhov, in having achieved this spin-related feat.

The Official Result
Christian Leroy Duncan def. Marco Tulio R2 3:20 via KO (Spinning Back Fist and Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 2, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Marco Tulio

Angelo picks Marco Tulio, stating he is better everywhere. He believes Marco's takedown defense will be good enough to keep the fight standing, and that Christian Leroy Duncan will resort to takedowns too late after getting touched up. He is surprisingly confident given the line.

"Marco Tulio is going to be the pick here. I'm surprisingly confident in it considering this line, but I'm going with Marco Tulio. I think he's just literally better everywhere."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Nov 7, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Marco Tulio

Big Brady leans toward Tulio, noting his incredible striking volume and wrestling/grappling upside. He worries about Tulio's hittability and past knockout loss, but thinks Duncan is KO or bust. He predicts Tulio wins comfortably on the scorecards if Duncan doesn't land a knockout.

decision
"Give me Tulio. Tio by decision in what should be another pretty fun fight."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 5, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Marco Tulio

Cody picks Tulio, citing his high volume and pressure. He thinks Duncan's lack of volume and tendency to clinch will be neutralized, and Tulio will outwork him.

"I think Tulio probably does outwork him."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Nov 2, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Marco Tulio

Lucrative James picks Marco Tulio, citing his higher ceiling and more vicious striking. He notes Tulio's offensive output and grappling upside, while criticizing Christian Leroy Duncan's lackluster performances against top competition. He acknowledges Tulio's hand injury but believes he has recovered. He expects Tulio to win, though not dominate.

"I'm going to go with Marco Tulio. You know, I think that his ceiling is a lot higher than Christian Leroy Duncan."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

The host disagrees with the betting public favoring Tulio, believing Duncan is the better striker with good clinch strength. He expects Duncan to wear Tulio down and eventually land a big shot for a knockout.

Knockout
"I think Duncan will showcase that Tulio is a little bit overrated at this stage. I think Duncan will be the better striker, showcase good strength inside the clinch, really wearing Tulio down."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 5, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Marco Tulio

Paul picks Tulio, noting his volume and pressure. He thinks Duncan's durability is fine but Tulio's pace will be too much, and the fight likely goes over 2.5 rounds.

over 2.5 rounds
"I'm going to side with Tulio on just basically staying way busier."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Marco Tulio

The Guru picks Marco Tulio over Christian Leroy Duncan. He believes Tulio has more natural pop in his punches and a better flow state, while Duncan relies on flashy techniques. He expects a close fight with Tulio landing the more significant shots and winning a hard-fought decision.

fight goes to decision
"I'm going to go with a hardfought decision to Marco Leo."
WIN vs Eryk Anders
KO R1 3:53 · UFC on ESPN: Dolidze vs. Hernandez · Aug 09, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Eryk Anders 0 7 of 12 58% 18 of 24 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:18
Christian Leroy Duncan 1 24 of 43 55% 27 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:39
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Eryk Anders 0 7 of 12 58% 18 of 24 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:18
Christian Leroy Duncan 1 24 of 43 55% 27 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:39
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Eryk Anders 7 of 12 58% 2 of 7 4 of 4 1 of 1 4 of 9 3 of 3 0 of 0
Christian Leroy Duncan 24 of 43 55% 9 of 26 3 of 4 12 of 13 20 of 37 3 of 3 1 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Eryk Anders 7 of 12 58% 2 of 7 4 of 4 1 of 1 4 of 9 3 of 3 0 of 0
Christian Leroy Duncan 24 of 43 55% 9 of 26 3 of 4 12 of 13 20 of 37 3 of 3 1 of 3
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Aug 3, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Angelo picks Christian Leroy Duncan despite questioning his fight IQ. He notes Duncan is the better striker with solid takedown defense and cardio, but he can be an idiot with game plans. If Duncan decides to wrestle, Anders could bully him. However, Anders' chin is declining, so Duncan should win if he strikes.

"So CLLD is going to have to be the pick. I'm just really hoping this dude isn't making group cheese sandwiches at night."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Big Brady is confident in Christian Leroy Duncan, though he notes Duncan sometimes lacks effort. He points out that Anders has been knocked down in his last three fights by lesser strikers like Jamie Pickett and Chris Weidman, indicating a decline. Brady believes if Duncan cares even a little, he will knock out Anders early. He predicts a first-round knockout for Duncan.

first round knockout
"I like Christian Leroy Duncan. I'm pretty confident he wins this fight. Give me Duncan. I'll take him to win by first round knockout."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Connor picks Duncan, noting that Anders is limited as a strategist and technician, and that Duncan's dynamic striking and range management will be too much. He points out that Anders has only beaten low-level opponents in recent years and is slow-footed, while Duncan is dangerous and annoying to fight. Connor expects Duncan to win and move toward a top 15 matchup.

Odds mentioned: Duncan opened -400, currently -500; Anders opened +330, currently +375.
"I just don't think Eric Anders is consistent enough to keep Duncan from hurting him."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

The host believes Duncan's speed and power will be too much for Anders, who is slowing down and was hurt badly by Weidman in his last fight. He thinks it's just a matter of time before Duncan lands a clean shot and puts Anders down and out.

by KO
"I think that this is a matchup where the speed and power of Duncan will be too much for Eric Anders, who's starting to slow down a little bit."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 8, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

The MMA Guru picks Christian Leroy Duncan, calling it a potential schooling. He notes Anders' recent wins are over old fighters and that Anders has become too technical. He expects Duncan to piece up Anders and win a dominant decision, possibly with a 10-8 round.

"I'm going with Christian Leroy Duncan over Eric Anders."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Zane agrees, calling Duncan a meme fighter with flashy skills but noting that Anders is a limited opponent who has struggled against similar fighters. He highlights that Anders has only beaten Kyle Daukaus, Jamie Pickett, and an aged Chris Weidman in recent years, while Duncan's athleticism and tricky style will cause problems. Zane thinks Duncan will win and eventually get exposed against top competition.

Odds mentioned: Duncan opened -400, currently -500; Anders opened +330, currently +375.
"I just don't think he's going to have a good time against a CLD."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Brady · Mar 22, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Christian Leroy Duncan 0 73 of 141 51% 116 of 187 0 of 2 0% 0 0 5:36
Andrey Pulyaev 0 18 of 55 32% 36 of 78 0 of 4 0% 0 0 1:49
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Christian Leroy Duncan 0 16 of 34 47% 44 of 62 0 of 2 0% 0 0 2:50
Andrey Pulyaev 0 4 of 11 36% 14 of 22 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:26
2 Christian Leroy Duncan 0 28 of 57 49% 31 of 60 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:42
Andrey Pulyaev 0 12 of 36 33% 14 of 38 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:09
3 Christian Leroy Duncan 0 29 of 50 58% 41 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:04
Andrey Pulyaev 0 2 of 8 25% 8 of 18 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:14
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Christian Leroy Duncan 73 of 141 51% 35 of 87 17 of 28 21 of 26 47 of 105 26 of 36 0 of 0
Andrey Pulyaev 18 of 55 32% 8 of 43 7 of 8 3 of 4 14 of 48 4 of 7 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Christian Leroy Duncan 16 of 34 47% 6 of 17 5 of 10 5 of 7 8 of 23 8 of 11 0 of 0
Andrey Pulyaev 4 of 11 36% 1 of 8 2 of 2 1 of 1 3 of 10 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Christian Leroy Duncan 28 of 57 49% 10 of 33 5 of 9 13 of 15 27 of 56 1 of 1 0 of 0
Andrey Pulyaev 12 of 36 33% 6 of 28 4 of 5 2 of 3 11 of 34 1 of 2 0 of 0
3 Christian Leroy Duncan 29 of 50 58% 19 of 37 7 of 9 3 of 4 12 of 26 17 of 24 0 of 0
Andrey Pulyaev 2 of 8 25% 1 of 7 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 4 2 of 4 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 16, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Angelo picks Christian Leroy Duncan as a massive favorite, stating the odds are spot on. He notes that while Duncan was out-wrestled in his last fight, Pulyaev's striking is limited to an occasional jab, so Duncan won't have to worry about power. He believes Duncan's takedown defense will hold up, and as the fight goes on, Pulyaev's takedowns will become sloppier.

"I've got to go CLD here he's obviously a massive favorite so no shock there but odds aside I think he wins"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 18, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Brady sees Duncan as a big favorite who beats lower-level guys in spectacular fashion. He thinks Pulyaev is in the same category as Duncan's previous wins. Brady predicts a second-round knockout, noting Pulyaev looked good on the contender series but fought a punching bag.

Duncan by KO round 2
"I got Christian lero Duncan here I'm going to take him to win this fight by by second round knockout"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 20, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

The host believes Duncan is far more athletic, powerful, and quicker on the feet, which will lead to a knockout in the second or third round. He emphasizes Duncan's physical advantages.

knockout in round 2 or 3
"I think Duncan is far more athletic, far more powerful, and way quicker on the feet, and that will ultimately lead to him finding the knockout in the second or third round."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 19, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

The Guru confidently picks Christian Leroy Duncan, believing he is too powerful and dense for Pulyaev, who he describes as frail and manipulatable. He expects Duncan to pressure Pulyaev backwards, push him against the cage, and land knees and elbows. He predicts a TKO in round two, as Pulyaev becomes more hesitant after being pressured early.

TKO round two
"I think Christian Leroy Duncan is a little too powerful for him I think that's going to be the difference here"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 · Jul 27, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Gregory Rodrigues 0 29 of 48 60% 53 of 77 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:45
Christian Leroy Duncan 0 45 of 79 56% 78 of 120 4 of 12 33% 0 0 8:20
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Gregory Rodrigues 0 9 of 19 47% 9 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Christian Leroy Duncan 0 12 of 21 57% 21 of 34 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:01
2 Gregory Rodrigues 0 13 of 17 76% 24 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:25
Christian Leroy Duncan 0 26 of 43 60% 40 of 58 1 of 7 14% 0 0 1:39
3 Gregory Rodrigues 0 7 of 12 58% 20 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:20
Christian Leroy Duncan 0 7 of 15 46% 17 of 28 2 of 4 50% 0 0 3:40
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Gregory Rodrigues 29 of 48 60% 13 of 28 7 of 10 9 of 10 23 of 40 6 of 8 0 of 0
Christian Leroy Duncan 45 of 79 56% 37 of 69 8 of 10 0 of 0 28 of 55 12 of 18 5 of 6
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Gregory Rodrigues 9 of 19 47% 3 of 10 2 of 4 4 of 5 9 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0
Christian Leroy Duncan 12 of 21 57% 9 of 16 3 of 5 0 of 0 9 of 17 0 of 0 3 of 4
2 Gregory Rodrigues 13 of 17 76% 8 of 11 3 of 4 2 of 2 7 of 10 6 of 7 0 of 0
Christian Leroy Duncan 26 of 43 60% 21 of 38 5 of 5 0 of 0 15 of 27 11 of 16 0 of 0
3 Gregory Rodrigues 7 of 12 58% 2 of 7 2 of 2 3 of 3 7 of 11 0 of 1 0 of 0
Christian Leroy Duncan 7 of 15 46% 7 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 11 1 of 2 2 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jul 21, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Angelo picks Christian Leroy Duncan but with very low confidence, calling it a 51% lean. He cites Duncan's sharp striking and hometown advantage, but acknowledges that Gregory Rodrigues is incredibly durable and dangerous. Angelo warns that Duncan can get too comfortable and showboat, potentially getting caught. He describes this as a very tough fight to pick.

"I'm gonna pick clld because of the sharp striking and the hometown Advantage but he could be a landmine"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Cody picks Christian Leroy Duncan, citing his superior striking, footwork, and precision. He notes that Gregory Rodrigues has a suspect chin and has been knocked out multiple times when standing. Cody believes Duncan can knock him out if Rodrigues chooses to brawl, but acknowledges that Rodrigues could win by grappling. However, he thinks Rodrigues is likely to engage in a striking battle, which favors Duncan.

Christian Leroy Duncan by TKO
"I'm going to go Duncan but you know at the end of the day when you look at like which other these underdogs do you not mind you didn't piay KCK them but it's like I I see the path …"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jul 25, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

Daniel picks Gregory Rodrigues (RoboCop), impressed by his knockout of Brad Tavares and his takedown ability. He questions Duncan's competition (exhausted Claudio Ribeiro, Dennis Tiuliulin) and notes that Duncan struggled against Armen Petrosyan. He trusts Rodrigues' power and wrestling, and notes Rodrigues has four knockouts in his last five fights.

"I'm going hobocop here for sure"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Hesitant picked Jul 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

Daniel acknowledges Christian Leroy Duncan's athleticism and flashy style but thinks Gregory Rodrigues has more paths to victory: decision, submission, or knockout. He notes Rodrigues' power, durability, and Jiu-Jitsu, while Duncan may be 'kill or bust.' He is hesitant due to Rodrigues' defensive flaws and stiff movement.

"I'm going to pick him in the spot but I'm very you know I acknowledge the fact that Leroy Duncan is special"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident picked Jul 25, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Jeff picks Christian Leroy Duncan, believing he will knock out Rodrigues. He notes that Rodrigues gets hurt in every fight and Duncan has shown power. He cites Duncan's four-inch reach advantage and thinks Duncan's striking will be the difference.

Christian Leroy Duncan via knockout +150
"I'm taking CD I think he's going to knock him out as well hobocop gets caught a lot"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Paul also picks Duncan, noting that the fight ending inside the distance is likely. He points out that Rodrigues' chin has been checked many times and that Duncan has never been finished. Paul believes Duncan will knock out Rodrigues, but he also considers the possibility of Rodrigues using grappling, which could expose Duncan's wrestling. He plans to bet on the fight ending inside the distance.

Fight ends inside the distance
"I think the most likely bet that I may add to some like long parlays and stuff his fight ends inside the distance here that's like minus two that's minus 220."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 22, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

The MMA Guru picks Gregory Rodrigues, citing his grappling edge and KO power. He notes that Rodrigues has better takedowns and can out-grapple Christian Leroy Duncan, who may struggle with grappling defense. The Guru also believes Rodrigues has more punching power and that Duncan hasn't faced someone with that level of power. He references Duncan's fight against Arman Petrosyan, where he was taken down, and suggests Rodrigues can replicate that success.

"I'm going to go with Gregory Rodriguez man I'm gonna pick Gregory Rodriguez I think he's got if there's anyone going to be out grappling the other here it's going to be Rodriguez getting takedowns on Christian Leroy Duncan"
TKO (elbows and punches) R2 1:57 · UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev · Mar 02, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Christian Leroy Duncan 0 65 of 92 70% 75 of 105 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:15
Cláudio Ribeiro 0 4 of 26 15% 13 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Christian Leroy Duncan 0 41 of 61 67% 48 of 70 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:59
Cláudio Ribeiro 0 3 of 20 15% 12 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:44
2 Christian Leroy Duncan 0 24 of 31 77% 27 of 35 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:16
Cláudio Ribeiro 0 1 of 6 16% 1 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Christian Leroy Duncan 65 of 92 70% 39 of 62 8 of 10 18 of 20 31 of 50 12 of 15 22 of 27
Cláudio Ribeiro 4 of 26 15% 1 of 19 1 of 3 2 of 4 4 of 24 0 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Christian Leroy Duncan 41 of 61 67% 16 of 34 8 of 9 17 of 18 29 of 46 12 of 15 0 of 0
Cláudio Ribeiro 3 of 20 15% 1 of 14 1 of 3 1 of 3 3 of 18 0 of 2 0 of 0
2 Christian Leroy Duncan 24 of 31 77% 23 of 28 0 of 1 1 of 2 2 of 4 0 of 0 22 of 27
Cláudio Ribeiro 1 of 6 16% 0 of 5 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 25, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Angelo picks Christian Leroy Duncan as the more technical fighter, noting that both are dangerous strikers but Duncan has better technique. He expects the fight to end inside the distance due to both fighters' recklessness. He mentions that Cláudio Ribeiro is nuts dangerous but Duncan should win.

Fight does not go to the distance (juiced odds, suggests parlaying if possible)
"CLD is the more technical fighter here and he should win he's going to be the pick but claudo is nuts dangerous and the bet here should be fight does not go to the distance"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Big Brady picks Duncan to finish Ribeiro by knockout in the second round. He notes Duncan is much more skilled, with good defensive wrestling and a ton of striking tools. He criticizes Ribeiro's 31% striking defense and poor cardio, and expects Duncan to wear him out and finish him late second round.

second round knockout
"I think Christian Leroy Duncan drags his fight into deeper waters and finishes Claudia hio late second round there by knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Cody picks Duncan, emphasizing Ribeiro's poor durability and lack of defense. He notes that Ribeiro is explosive for one round but fades quickly, and Duncan's precision striking from the outside will be effective. Cody compares Ribeiro to Dennis Tulin, whom Duncan already beat. He expects Duncan to win by knockout in the second or third round.

"Duncan's got much better wrestling right so if lud wants to take the fight to the ground or if he start to Tire or if he got clipped with something and he need to take a break he could take …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 26, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Duncan is the bigger, stronger fighter and should control the majority of the fight. He can clinch Ribeiro against the cage, wear on him with knees and elbows, and deflate Ribeiro's power and explosiveness. Duncan's maturity was shown in his last fight against Tulan, where he slowed the pace and found the finish in the second round. The over 1.5 rounds at plus money is intriguing, but Duncan should get the knockout in the second round.

over 1.5 rounds at +100 considered, Duncan by knockout
"I think Duncan can control the majority of it he is the bigger stronger fighter in my opinion and I think he might look to go the same route that he did against tan where he was able to clinch …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Paul picks Duncan, noting his technical striking and ability to fight at range. He contrasts Ribeiro's one-dimensional brawling style and poor cardio. Paul believes Duncan will counter Ribeiro's wild swings and finish him inside the distance, similar to how he handled Dennis Tulin. He acknowledges the small cage could be a factor but favors Duncan's skill.

"Duncan's going to find something Duncan will get the job done inside the distance"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

The MMA Guru believes Duncan has better movement, kickboxing, and strength in the clinch. He notes Ribeiro has no good wins and is coming off a KO loss, while Duncan is coming off a TKO win. He predicts a highlight-reel KO for Duncan.

KO win
"I think Christian Leroy Duncan moves way better than Ribeiro, way better kickboxing... I reckon we're going to see Christian Leroy Duncan get a highlight reel KO"
TKO (punches and elbows) R2 4:24 · UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig · Nov 18, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Christian Leroy Duncan 1 65 of 87 74% 90 of 123 0 of 2 0% 0 0 4:51
Denis Tiuliulin 0 30 of 71 42% 37 of 81 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Christian Leroy Duncan 0 13 of 15 86% 38 of 51 0 of 1 0% 0 0 4:37
Denis Tiuliulin 0 7 of 14 50% 12 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Christian Leroy Duncan 1 52 of 72 72% 52 of 72 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:14
Denis Tiuliulin 0 23 of 57 40% 25 of 60 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Christian Leroy Duncan 65 of 87 74% 44 of 65 8 of 9 13 of 13 46 of 65 16 of 17 3 of 5
Denis Tiuliulin 30 of 71 42% 19 of 57 6 of 8 5 of 6 26 of 66 4 of 5 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Christian Leroy Duncan 13 of 15 86% 6 of 8 3 of 3 4 of 4 6 of 8 7 of 7 0 of 0
Denis Tiuliulin 7 of 14 50% 4 of 11 2 of 2 1 of 1 5 of 11 2 of 3 0 of 0
2 Christian Leroy Duncan 52 of 72 72% 38 of 57 5 of 6 9 of 9 40 of 57 9 of 10 3 of 5
Denis Tiuliulin 23 of 57 40% 15 of 46 4 of 6 4 of 5 21 of 55 2 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Nov 12, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Angelo leans Christian Leroy Duncan, hoping his loss to Arman Petrosian woke him up to be less flashy and more focused. He notes Duncan is the better wrestler and should take the fight to the ground. He expects a finish and does not see it going the distance.

Does not see it going the distance
"I am going to lean Christian Duncan here because this is an MMA fight I do not see this Going the Distance"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 17, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Big Brady thinks Tiuliulin is not UFC caliber, with no striking defense and the worst ground game in the UFC. He sees Duncan having multiple paths: picking him apart and knocking him out, or taking him down and submitting him. He predicts a first-round knockout, noting Tiuliulin's only chance is landing a big shot.

"I think Christian Duncan's the rightful favorite the rightful big favorite and outside of Dennis tuin Landing a big shot I think Christian Duncan should get this done pretty convincingly so I'll say first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Cody picks Christian Leroy Duncan confidently, citing his movement, footwork, and counter-striking. He notes that Tiuliulin is a brawler with poor footwork and cardio, coming in on short notice. Duncan can pick him apart and likely get a TKO. Cody sees this as an excellent stylistic matchup for Duncan.

"Duncan's got to be the play this week"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 17, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Duncan relies on speed, explosiveness, and early power to finish fights. Tiuliulin has been finished by grapplers but Duncan is a striker. Duncan's power and speed should be too much early, leading to a knockout in the first round. However, Duncan is reliant on finishes and may fade if it goes longer. Tiuliulin could make it closer if he survives the early onslaught.

win by knockout
"I still take Duncan to win this matchup and I'll take him to Win It by knockout"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Paul agrees, noting Tiuliulin's rudimentary style and poor grappling. He believes Duncan can hang out at range and avoid danger. Paul mentions Tiuliulin's history of getting finished and expects Duncan to win by TKO or submission.

"I'm with you Christian Loro Duncan"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

The MMA Guru picks Christian Leroy Duncan to win by body kick KO in round two. He notes Tiuliulin is hittable and requires breaking opponents, and is coming off a nasty KO. He believes Duncan is a much better striker with good cardio and movement, and that Tiuliulin taking the fight on short notice makes it a no-brainer.

body kick KO round two
"I'm going to go Christian Leroy Duncan over Dennis Tiuliulin... I actually think he'll whoop up Dennis Tiuliulin and maybe finish him with a kick to the body in round two."