Jared Cannonier has detailed the reason he could not share the Octagon with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294.
Cannonier had long been against fighting Chimaev unless a title opportunity was at stake. The middleweight contender got his wish, but his chance quickly slipped away. Chimaev ended up facing former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. “Borz” defeated “The Nigerian Nightmare” via majority decision.
Jared Cannonier Was Offered Khamzat Chimaev Fight At UFC 294
During an interview with Submission Radio, Jared Cannonier revealed he was offered to share the Octagon with Khamzat Chimaev before Kamaru Usman got the call.
“I got the call to step in to fight Chimaev, but unfortunately, before I could tell my manager to tell the UFC, ‘Yes,’ I had injured myself. So, I wasn’t able to take that fight on 10 days’ [notice],” Cannonier said. “They called me on the 10th. So, they called me, offered me that fight before they offered it to Usman. So, it would’ve been me. It could’ve easily been me.
“Forty minutes into practice, we’re working, I get hit with a mat return,” Cannonier said. “We’re working get ups and stuff. So, of course we’re working get ups, right? ‘Cause I’m not expecting to not get taken down by Khamzat, I’m expecting that this guy’s gonna be able to take me down, but is he gonna be able to keep me down? And the answer in my mind is always no. They’re never able to keep me down, and he ain’t no different.”
Injury Forces Cannonier vs. Roman Dolidze Cancellation
Cannonier went on to explain the nature of his injury, and revealed that his planned UFC Fight Night bout with Roman Dolidze is now off the December 2 card.
“When I hit the mat, I hit the mat in the way to where my left hip and my right foot hit the mat at the same time,” Cannonier said. “Just the downward force of me hitting the ground in that manner went right to my MCL, tore the MCL. Got the MRI, verified it. So, this opportunity had slipped me by. Not only an hour after receiving the opportunity does it slip through my hands in that manner. So, did the MRI, I’m scheduled to have surgery on it this Thursday, actually. The fight in December’s not gonna happen.”
Here is Submission Radio’s full video interview with Jared Cannonier:
