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ISRAEL ADESANYA VS JARED CANNONIER FACTS
When is UFC 276? Sunday 3rd July, 2022 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 276? T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 276? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 276
What channel is UFC 276 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 276? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
ISRAEL ADESANYA VS JARED CANNONIER LOWDOWN
Israel Adesanya (22-1) struts out for the fifth defence of his crown. He has a long way to go to reach the Anderson Silva heights, but he has not put a foot wrong at middleweight. The only blip in his MMA career was when he stepped up to light heavyweight in pursuit of double champ status. It turned out to be a humbling experience realizing skill does not always counter weight and power. He was completely undersized and out grappled by Jan Blachowicz, but it was a valuable lesson and he has since gone on to earn classy unanimous decisions over Marvin Vettori (2021) and Robert Whittaker (2022) to maintain his perfect middleweight record.
Jared Cannonier (13-5) is the next challenger in line. After mixed results up at light heavyweight and even heavyweight, he has only experienced one blip himself since moving to his rightful home at 185 lbs. He knocked out David Branch (2018), Anderson Silva (2019) and Jack Hermansson (2019) before succumbing to Whittaker in a unanimous decision. He has also bounced back with two impressive wins earning a unanimous decision over Kelvin Gastelum (2021) and a ruthless knockout over the surging Derek Brunson (2022).
ISRAEL ADESANYA VS JARED CANNONIER PREDICTION
Considering the way Adesanya dealt with the class and technique of Whittaker twice and the explosive power of Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa make him the obvious favourite here. That said, we know MMA maths does not always add up. Cannonier has one-punch knockout power with solid technique so he cannot be counted out.
Cannonier needs to close the distance at all costs. If he stands at the end of his range, Adesanya will chew him up while staying out of danger. The champ will boast a five-inch height, and a three-inch arm and leg reach advantage which he will leverage to full effect.
If Cannonier can get in the pocket, the odds will still be against him, but he has a better chance to find the chin. It may be risky accepting a few strikes to get close, but he only needs one shot to put Adesanya in trouble.
Expect both of them to start trading leg kicks. Cannonier has the power to disable Adesanya, but the champ’s leg kicks have become some of the best in the division snapping them off finding his target from a distance with pinpoint accuracy.
Again, considering Adesanya’s distance control, Cannonier will have to eat kicks to the leg, body and head while getting countered by his jab and combinations to land something himself. So, unless he can catch him early, the damage will build up, while Adesanya gets a read on all the openings which may lead to a late knockout.
We feel Adesanya will need to make a mistake or have a lapse in concentration to lose this. Cannonier is top tier with one-punch knockout power, but he is not bringing anything to the table that the champ has not seen and dealt with before.
Prediction: Adesanya via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)