Jared Cannonier is almost a 2-1 favorite against Jan Blachowicz at UFC on FOX 26 on Saturday night in Winnipeg. Cannonier is 10-2 in his career, including 3-2 in the UFC, while Blachowicz is 20-7, including 3-4 in the UFC. This fight is one of six on a busy preliminary card on FS1 leading up to a four-fight main card on FOX that features Robbie Lawler taking on Rafael dos Anjos. Let’s take a look at Cannonier vs. Blachowicz.
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Cannonier made his UFC debut early in 2015 and lost to Shawn Jordan. Cannonier bounced back nicely to knock out Cyril Asker in April of 2016. He followed up that win with a unanimous decision win against Ion Cutelaba in December of last year. Cannonier suffered a unanimous decision loss to Glover Teixeira at UFC 208 in February, but he bounced back to knock out Nick Roehrick in July.
Cannonier said to Bloody Elbow that he is ready for this fight against Blachowicz. “I’m very happy with the matchup. Jan is a tough dude. Some of those decisions were against the top guys in the division; Alexander Gustafsson, Jimi Manuwa. He’s fought a bunch of top guys, so he’s tough, and all of those losses have been decisions. It’s not like he’s been getting wrecked in there; and the dude’s a black belt now. I know what his weapon is, I know what his advantage is. Or at least what he thinks his advantage is.”
Cannonier said that he is prepared for Blachowicz trying to take him down. “Well, that would be the best thing, the smartest decision to make for him. Once the hands start going, you know, there’s 2 ways down. You shoot or you can fall. That’s what I’m preparing for. I’m preparing for a guy to shoot, because I feel like I’m going to have the striking advantage in most of the matchups.”
Cannonier said recently that he is even a better striker than he has been in the past and that there will be more knockouts of his opponents in the future.
Blachowicz has fought seven times in the UFC with mixed results. He made his debut in 2014 and looked good in a knockout of Ilir Latifi. Blachowicz couldn’t follow up that win, as he lost decisions to Jimi Manuwa and Corey Anderson in 2015. Blachowicz split his two fights last year, beating Igor Pokrajac but losing to Alexander Gustafsson. Blachowicz has also split his two fights this year, losing to Patrick Cummins but beating Devin Clark.
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Blachowicz is stepping in on short notice and replacing Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. I don’t think this is a good matchup for Blachowicz and it doesn’t help his cause that he is taking the fight on short notice. Cannonier is simply the better fighter and unless Blachowicz gets in a lucky shot I don’t see how he can win. I will lay the price and take Cannonier in this fight.
UFC on FOX 26 takes place on Saturday, December 16 at the Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. There are four fights on the main card featuring Robbie Lawler vs. Rafael dos Anjos and eight preliminary bouts, with six on FS1 and two on UFC Fight Pass.
Main Card (FOX)
Rafael dos Anjos -115 vs. Robbie Lawler (rounds 2.5 over -160)
Ricard Lamas -275 vs. Josh Emmett (rounds 2.5 over -169)
Santiago Ponzinibbio -200 vs. Mike Perry (rounds 1.5 under -120)
Misha Cirkunov -160 vs. Glover Teixeira (rounds 1.5 over -160)
Preliminary Card (FS1)
Jared Cannonier -192 vs. Jan Blachowicz (rounds 2.5 over -180)
Julian Marquez -290 vs. Darren Stewart (rounds 1.5 over -125)
Chad Laprise -160 vs. Galore Bofando (rounds 1.5 over -175)
Tim Elliott -270 vs. Pietro Menga (rounds 2.5 over -210)
Abel Trujillo -180 vs. John Makdessi (rounds 1.5 over -180)
Alessio Di Chirico -117 vs. Oluwale Bamgbose (rounds 1.5 under -155)
Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Jordan Mein -135 vs. Erick Silva (rounds 1.5 over -135)
Nordine Taleb -150 vs. Danny Roberts (rounds 2.5 over -200)
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