MMA Preview – Robert Whittaker vs Jared Cannonier at UFC 254
ROBERT WHITTAKER VS JARED CANNONIER FACTS
When is UFC 254? Saturday 24th September, 2020 - 17:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 254? Flash Forum, Fight Island, Abu Dhabi (UAE)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 254? No tickets are available as this event will take place without spectators
What channel is UFC 254 on? BT Sport 2
Where can I stream UFC 254? 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!
ROBERT WHITTAKER VS JARED CANNONIER LOWDOWN
Robert Whittaker (21-5) is back on Fight Island with that new fire burning in his belly. After that crushing knockout loss to Israel Adesanya, losing his first fight as a middleweight and handing over his title, Whittaker did some soul searching to rekindle his love of the game. He returned in July on Fight Island to take on Darren Till and came out victorious in a unanimous decision proving he is still one of the very best middleweights in the world.
Promised a title shot with an impressive win, Jared Cannonier (13-4) has begun blazing a trail in the middleweight division. His success has coincided with streamlining his physique. He started his career as a chubby heavyweight and went 1-1 in the UFC. He dropped to light heavyweight going 2-3 but his losses were to Glover Teixeira, Jan Blachowicz and Dominick Reyes which proved to be priceless experience. He then dropped to 185 lbs and clearly maintained his power knocking out David Branch, crushing Anderson Silva’s leg and now coming off a knockout over Jack Hermansson.
NEW CUSTOMER OFFER! CLICK HERE FOR ENHANCED ODDS OF 10/1 ON KHABIB TO BEAT GAETHJE WITH PARIMATCH!
ROBERT WHITTAKER VS JARED CANNONIER PREDICTION
Cannonier is a former heavyweight and Whittaker is a former welterweight, but they are both natural middleweights. Cannonier has more power, particularly in his hands but Whittaker makes up the difference with the technique, in his striking and in his wrestling.
Cannonier at 185 lbs is scary and his new speed combined with his knockout power is clearly his biggest threat. Whittaker is tried and tested against explosive strikers, but we are only just realising what Cannonier is capable of in the division. Whittaker’s 50 minutes with Yoel Romero and 25 with Till is very valuable here but he inevitably ate shots and there is only so many you can consume against Cannonier.
Although he lost, Cannonier’s fights with Blachowicz and Reyes will give him confidence as well as having a four-inch reach advantage so Whittaker’s defence and awkward combinations will be crucial to winning the exchanges. He is unlikely to call upon his wrestling so this is going be a violent battle, slow-paced but with fiery exchanges which could easily end in a knockout either way.
Cannonier is the real deal at middleweight but if the best version of Whittaker turns up, he has the fight IQ, technique, durability and cardio to finish stronger and only fighting three rounds will allow him to display it all.
Prediction: Whittaker via KO/TKO
