UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs Cannonier Recap

Jared Cannonier defeats Marvin Vettori via unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 48-46)

The main event of UFC Vegas 75 was one for the record books. Cannonier’s relentless pace was the story of this fight as he set a new middleweight significant strike record of 249, including 90 in round two. After being hurt in round one, Cannonier came back to dominate Vettori in the second, earning himself a 10-8. From that point forward Jared kept his foot on the gas to reach a comfortable decision victory. At 39 years old, Cannonier seems to have reinvented himself in some way as he looks significantly improved from the version of himself that challenged for the belt at UFC 276. This victory puts Jared on a two-fight win streak with his only two losses in the last five years coming from Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker.

I want the title shot, that’s what I’m here for; I’m here to go towards the title – I’m willing and ready to step in if anything happens with that title shot coming up or the fight that gets me the title shot. That’s what I want

Jared Cannonier post-fight UFC Vegas 75

Arman Tsarukyan defeats Joaquim Silva via TKO at 3:25 of round 3

At -1100 Arman Tsarukyan was by far the widest favorite on this card. However, his fight with Joaquim Silva did not play out that way. After controlling Silva on the ground in the first, Arman was hurt badly on the feet and put on wobbly legs. He was then able to weather the storm and earn a TKO finish toward the end of the third round, ending the possibility of a massive upset. Arman then took the opportunity to call out the man who handed him his first UFC loss, Islam Makhachev:

“When I fought (for the) first time with Islam Makhachev, you gave me three weeks (to prepare). If you’re gonna give me eight weeks, I’m gonna smash him.”

Arman Tsarukyan post-fight UFC Vegas 75

Other Results

Armen Petrosyan defeated Christian Leroy Duncan via unanimous decision in what some would describe as a bizarre contest. CLD, who’s known as a flashy striker, fulfilled his reputation to the highest degree. Duncan threw a vast barrage of spinning attacks, crescent kicks, and jumping attacks while managing a healthy reach advantage. Petrosyan proved to be too experienced and technical for Duncan, as he took a much more traditional and effective approach to the contest. This fight also happened to mark the first loss of Christian Leroy Duncan’s professional career, one that he may have needed to address some parts of his game.

Manuel Torres scored one of the cleaner elbow knockouts you’ll ever see in the first round of his fight with Nikolas Motta. Motta was having a bit of success on the feet before the knockout blow, but Torres was able to battle through that and come out the other end victorious. This is an easy candidate for SevereMMA’s Knockout of the Year award, stay tuned for that.

After tearing up Jimmy Flick’s leg with unchecked kicks in the first round, Alessandro Costa earned a TKO victory with some vicious ground and pound elbows. Add Costa to the growing list of names to watch out for in the flyweight division.

Carlos Hernandez ended his fight with a nasty slam-TKO finish over Denys Bondar, or so we thought. After the finish, video replay revealed there may have been an incidental headbutt on the completion of the slam. As a result, the stoppage was void and this fight would be decided on the scorecards. Hernandez was still victorious, but now by way of unanimous technical decision.