Derek Brunson vs. Jared Cannonier added to UFC 270
The upcoming UFC 270 pay-per-view has been propped up by a middleweight contest featuring Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier.
MMAjunkie.com was the first to report that Brunson vs. Cannonier will take place at UFC 270, which is set for January 22. The event currently does not have a location or venue booked, nor is the main event set. However, Brunson vs. Cannonier — a pivotal matchup at 185lbs featuring two of the division’s top-five ranked talents — will likely take place on the main card, with the winner getting a title shot. There is also the chance that UFC 270 could feature the rematch between UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and his rival Robert Whittaker in the main event, so Brunson vs. Cannonier is insurance in case something happens to them.
Brunson (23-7) is the No. 4 ranked middleweight in the UFC. The 37-year-old American has been red-hot as of late as he’s won his last five fights in a row, with his most recent performance being a third-round submission win over Darren Till. Following the big win over Till, Brunson called for a title shot against Adesanya, which would be a rematch. However, the UFC decided that Brunson needs to fight Cannonier first in order to claim the next title shot at 185lbs. Should Brunson defeat Cannonier, he’s expected to be next for the title shot.
Cannonier (14-5) is the No. 3 ranked middleweight in the UFC. The 37-year-old American is coming off of a decision win over Kelvin Gastelum in his last fight, and overall he has won four of five fights since moving down to the middleweight division. Cannonier could have also been considered for a title shot given his recent form, but instead, he will have to pass one more test in Brunson before he gets the next crack at gold.
Who do you think wins this middleweight bout at UFC 270 between Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier?
