Jared Cannonier made it clear that he wasn’t happy about being matched up with Michael ‘Venom’ Page for his next middleweight bout. They are set to fight at UFC 319, which takes place at the United Center in Chicago on Aug. 16.
Cannonier, 41, is currently ranked No.8 and is coming off an impressive TKO win over Gregory Rodrigues. In contrast, Page is an unranked middleweight. ‘MVP’ holds the No.15 spot at welterweight and most recently secured a unanimous decision win over Shara Magomedov.
At this point in his career, Cannonier wants one last push toward the middleweight championship. He has remained near the top of the division for several years. However, he fell short in his only title fight against Israel Adesanya.
During a conversation with Submission Radio, Cannonier voiced his frustration over the matchmaking. He acknowledged the promotional value of fighting Page, but questioned whether it made sense for someone chasing a title opportunity.
Cannonier emphasized that his frustration isn’t personal, as he respects Page’s talent, but would have preferred a ranked opponent.
“The issues that I had with the fight is that [Page] is really not a middleweight,” Cannoier said. “Me, I’m focused on getting back to the title. I understand it’s a big fight, it’s on a big card, so there is some weight there…The fight is happening, so get ready.”
“It’s business as usual. [Page] may be unranked, but I don’t know. I can’t really make any reasoning behind the matchmaking,” he added.
Jared Cannonier Praises Michael ‘Venom’ Page as a Fighter
Despite his concers, Cannonier still praised Page as a fighter. ‘MVP’ made a name for himself in Bellator and was considered among the top fighters outside the UFC.
‘MVP’ has gone 2-1 inside the octagon, with his only loss coming via split decision against Ian Machado Garry.
Cannonier complimented Page for his exciting fighting style. He remains focused and knows that a dominant win would put him back on the right path.
“I’ve watched ‘MVP’ for a long time,” Cannonier told Submission Radio. “He’s a world renowned fighter, we all know who he is. We all love to watch him fight and stuff like that. It’s still a big fight and with any fight, a dominant finish will get me back on track.”
Jared Cannonier Discusses Strategy to Solve Michael ‘Venom’ Page’s Unorthodox Striking
Page is known for his elusive movement, unorthodox striking, and primarily due to his unorthodox striking, and highlight-reel knockouts. His noticeable improvements in takedown defense have also made him even more dangerous.
Cannonier isn’t underestimating the threat Page poses and is prepared for their UFC 319 showdown. He said that his strategy is to remain focused and prevent Page from finding his rhythm and dictating the fight.
“I put pressure on, I engage in the fight, and I try to capitalize off of mistakes or any openings I might find in my opponent,” Cannonier said. “I’m not going in there to try to solve no ‘MVP’ puzzle, I’m going in there trying to perform to the best of my ability.”
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