Jared Cannonier knows he’s in for a tough challenge against Marvin Vettori.
Cannonier (16-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) meets fellow former middleweight title challenger Vettori in a UFC Fight Night headliner June 17 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Vettori (19-6-1 MMA, 9-4-1 UFC) never has been finished in 26 professional fights, and Cannonier points to his durability as being one of his strongest assets.
“Well, Marvin is resilient,” Cannonier told The Schmo. “He’s always ever-present in the fight. He doesn’t take time off. He doesn’t get tired. So, on top of that, he’s hard to finish. Resilient, right? So, he has that perseverance in him, too. If he sees an opening, he’s definitely going to try to jump through it with both fist and feet and all that good stuff. But I’ve prepared to fight the best in the world, and I’m ready for whatever he’s going to bring.”
Winner of three of his past four, Cannonier is hoping to get another title shot with a win over Vettori. But with former champion Robert Whittaker booked against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290 on July 8, Cannonier knows he’ll likely have to win one more before getting another crack at middleweight champ Israel Adesanya.
“It’s slim pickings here at the top,” Cannonier said. “So, if I don’t get the next title shot, if I have to fight somebody before I get the title shot, then it will probably have to be the loser of the title fight or that contenders match that’s happening in July.”
