UFC Fight Night 216: Cannonier vs Strickland 12/17/2022 – Top middleweight contenders Jared Cannonier and Sean Strickland face each other in the main event of UFC Fight Night 216 on Saturday, December 17, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The five-round clash will bring to a close an eventful 2022 in the UFC but it hopes to make a mark as the promotion seeks to come up big for 2023. The matchup will also affect the landscape of the 185-pound class, as both fighters look to gain a crack for the title. Opening UFC fight odds are already in and betting aficionados are anticipating an exciting showdown between the two fighters.
UFC Fight Night 216: Cannonier vs Strickland 12/17/2022
| When: | Saturday, December 17, 7:00 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
| Stream: | UFC Fight Pass |
UFC Fight Night 216: Cannonier vs Strickland 12/17/2022 Odds
| Fighter | Odds | Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jared Cannonier | -104 | Sean Strickland | -116 |
Main Card
Jared Cannonier
Jared Cannonier (15-6, 8-6 UFC) is coming off a loss to Israel Adesanya for the UFC Middleweight Championship in July. The fighter known as “Killa Gorilla” is ranked third in the 185-pound class due to his world-class striking ability that has knocked out 10 opponents. The 38-year-old fighter needs to prove his worth in this showdown to secure another opportunity for the world title.
Sean Strickland
Sean Strickland (25-4, 12-4 UFC) has been impressive in the UFC after having a successful stint in the King of the Cage, where he reigned supreme in the middleweight category. Losses to Santiago Ponzinibbio, Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, Kamaru Usman and newly-crowned UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira disrupted his bid for the title. Currently seventh in the 185-pound rankings, the North Carolina-born fighter has beaten 14 of his opponents via stoppage and he is looking for more to finally secure a UFC title shot.
UFC Fight Night 216: Cannonier vs Strickland Betting Numbers
| Record | 11-4-0 | 20-3-0 |
| Last Fight | Loss | Loss |
| Country | USA | USA |
| Height | 5’10” | 6’0″ |
| Weight (lbs) | 205 | 169 |
| Reach (in) | 76″ | 75″ |
| Win by KO/TKO | 67% | 40% |
| Win by Submission | 13% | 16% |
| Decisions | 20% | 44% |
| Strikes landed per minute | 3.62 | 4.34 |
| Striking accuracy | 51% | 35% |
| Striking absorbed per minute | 2.76 | 3.62 |
| Striking defense | 67% | 64% |
| Takedown average | 0.2 | 1.37 |
| Takedown accuracy | 33% | 57% |
| Takedown defense | 44% | 81% |
| Submission average | 0 | 0.5 |
Cannonier vs Strickland Betting Picks
Top-caliber sports punters that specialize in the mixed martial arts discipline treat Cannonier a slight underdog in his fight against Strickland. The latter has been a reliable workhorse and emerged victorious in more than 10 fights. However, Cannonier has used his striking power to secure a title opportunity this year against Adesanya. Strickland must use his more superior MMA skills to outwit his foe and gain a chance to fight for the crown in the near future. A victory by either fighter would enhance their status in the middleweight class and is expected to be next in line for the crown in the most exciting division in the UFC.
