Scouting Report: Jared Cannonier

Jared Cannonier

Born: March 16, 1984 (Age: 39) in Dallas
Division: Middleweight
Height: 5’11”
Reach: 77.5”
Record: 16-6 (9-6 UFC)
Association: MMA Lab
Stage of Career: Post-prime

Summary: Cannonier started mixed martial arts late and showed significant improvement in his mid-30s, which makes one wonder how amazing he could have been had he gotten into the sport sooner. Thanks to his sturdy takedown defense and fantastic ability to get back to his feet, he has managed to simplify an MMA contest into one based around striking. While he does not have every strike in the book, his right hand is a genuine weapon, regardless of what he throws; the right cross, right hook, overhand right and right uppercut are all powerful and sudden. He is especially lethal from close range, an area at which no one wants to engage Cannonier. He also features excellent leg kicks that are ridiculously powerful and sudden. His defense is also sound. While his jab could be even better and his left hook could be used more, only the best strikers can hope to surpass him in the standup. Despite his age, Cannonier is athletic and strong, with surprisingly stout cardio. Considering he also fights smart—he uses the first round to gain an understanding of his opponents before viciously attacking in ensuing stanzas—he is a fearsome challenge for almost anyone at 185 pounds.

STRIKING

• Stance: Orthodox.
• Hand Speed: Average.
• Jab: Slightly telegraphed but technical and hard enough.
• Cross: Sudden and powerful—a terrifying combination.
• Right Hook: Tremendously powerful, with a short, tight arc.
• Overhand Right: Slightly hitched, with the elbow too high up. Lacks a consistent arc but accurate and fairly hard.
• Uppercuts: Excellent from the right side. A powerful weapon at close range.
• Solitary Striker or Volume Puncher: Throws punches in bunches when he senses an opportunity, but not in general.
• Favorite Combination(s): The one-two, which is outstanding.
• Leg Kicks: Powerful, sudden and fairly fast.
• Body Kicks: Rarely throws them.
• Head Kicks: Rarely throws them.
• Chains Kicks to Punches: No.

Cannonier has devastating and outstanding striking skills, and despite a fairly long reach, he is at his most dangerous from close range, where it is difficult to think of a middleweight who is superior to him. All of the power and peril comes from his right hand but in a variety of forms, with a genuinely great right cross and right hook, a technically flawed but solid overhand right and an outstanding right uppercut at close range. However, he also carries a bone-crushing and underrated leg kick, which ranks among the best in the middleweight division. Cannonier is relatively sound from a defensive standpoint, but he would be even better if he improved his jab or used the left hook more.

CLINCH

• Physical Strength: Excellent.
• Technique: Serviceable.
• Knees: Decent, but he looks to defend against takedowns first and foremost.
• Elbows: Does not throw them.
• Defense Against Knees/Elbows: Sound.

Cannonier loves to throw close-range punches, but in a full-on clinch, he looks to defend against takedowns, gain separation and little else.

GRAPPLING

• Wrestling from a Shot: Does not pursue it.
• Wrestling in the Clinch: Does not pursue it.
• Takedown Defense: An underrated part of his game. He can successfully defend strong attempts from excellent grapplers, although those with the best timing and technique get through.
• Ability to Return to Feet: Can do so through a multitude of ways, whether wall walking or his beautiful, athletic hip escapes and scrambles—the method he used to get up against Jack Hermansson, who has outstanding top control, submissions and ground-and-pound.
• Submissions: Does not pursue them.
• Defense/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from the Bottom: If he fails to quickly get up, Cannonier has proven susceptible to ground-and-pound. He absorbed many hard shots from Ion Cutelaba before pushing him away with his feet.
• Top Control: Limited. Opponents are often badly hurt already or exhausted when Cannonier makes his way into top position.
• Ground-and-Pound: Average and basic. He can connect with punches or elbows, especially when the opponent is exhausted, as was the case with Cutelaba.

Cannonier’s grappling is purely defensive at his current level, but in that capacity, it has been quite difficult to crack. His takedown defense has improved throughout his mid-30s and can now be cast as effective, even against top-notch grapplers. When he does get taken down, Cannonier excels at getting up through scrambles, wall walking and gorgeous, athletic hip escapes. Opponents who manage to pin him down can batter him with ground-and-pound. He rarely uses his own top game and generally does not give others much to worry about in that arena.

INTANGIBLES

• Athleticism/General Physical Strength: Well above average in both areas despite his age.
• Cardio: He normally throws powerful blows well into the third round and paces himself well for five-round fights, but his conditioning has shown signs of deteriorating lately.
• Chin: As a former heavyweight, he has managed to weather some solid connections from Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, among others, at 185 pounds.
• Recuperative Powers: Good enough to keep him in fights where he runs into trouble.
• Intelligence: Often takes a smart, calm approach. He prefers to use the first round to figure out opponents and their movements before viciously attacking them and pursuing finishes in the second and third periods. Occasionally makes tactical mistakes.