A long lay-off negotiated, an injury overcome, and now on Fight Island with a shot at UFC gold on the horizon, little wonder Jared Cannonier is raring to go.
"I'm chomping at the bit, man," the world's No 3-ranked middleweight tells The National ahead of his title eliminator against No 2 Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. "Antsy in my pantsy, if you will. I'm hungry; I'm ready to get in there.
“It’s good that I’m happy and healthy, that I get to go to work. I love what I do; I love the martial arts. And I get to do it on a very big stage and get paid at the same time, so I’m very fortunate to be in this position.”
That position is one win from a championship fight. Should Cannonier see off former champion Whittaker in the penultimate bout at the series-concluding UFC 254 at Flash Forum, he moves to a match-up with reigning belt-holder Israel Adesanya. UFC president Dana White has confirmed as much. Adesanya, meanwhile, says he wants that fight next.
Thus, Cannonier considers Saturday, the rescheduling of a bout first slated for UFC 248 earlier this year, the “biggest fight of my life”.
“I know this is a No 1-contender fight, this is what it was supposed to be back in March,” he says. “Again, I’m just fortunate to remain in that position given I was injured and out for five-six months.
“No pressure. If anything, it’s all energy. Everything is energy and I can use that and I only want to use that which can make me better as a person. I’m just solid in that regard. If it’s good energy I’m going to take it, transform it, transmute it, do some mental, spiritual and physical alchemy and turn it into gold… turn lead into gold. And everybody likes gold.”
Gold, the one currently in Adesanya’s possession, represents the end goal. Not that Cannonier (13-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) is getting sidetracked this weekend by what’s at stake.
“We’ve heard all the memes and monikers: ‘pressure makes diamonds’ and stuff like that,” he says. “So no pressure. I don’t even want to expand on it any more. Everybody’s expectations have no effect on what I feel or think. Nobody but me resides in this shell, so can’t nobody really affect me, unless I want them to.
“[Adesanya saying he wants me next] sort of helps; as far as my star, it pushes me closer to the title. Everybody knows the threat that I pose. They just see me as a big powerful puncher because I dropped down from heavyweight and all that stuff. That’s just good genes. All the stuff they’re saying, again, is only energy to fuel my fire.”
Against Whittaker, Cannonier might need all the motivation he can draw upon. The New Zealand-born Australian, the division’s No 1-ranked contender, relinquished the title to Adesanya 12 months ago, then withdrew from the March clash citing burn out.
However, Whittaker returned to the octagon in July, defeating the dangerous Darren Till on points at the inaugural Fight Island.
In contrast, "The Killa Gorilla" hasn’t fought in 13 months.
Whittaker beats Darren Till in Abu Dhabi
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Robert Whittaker lands a kick during his victory against Darren Till at UFC Fight Night 3 in July. Getty -
Robert Whittaker celebrates his victory over Darren Till in their middleweight contest during the UFC Fight Night 3 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Getty -
Robert Whittaker punches Darren Till. Getty -
Darren Till strikes Robert Whittaker. Getty -
Robert Whittaker punches Darren Till. Getty -
Darren Till lands a left on Robert Whittaker. Getty
“I believe ring rust is more of a mental thing, or a lack of preparation,” Cannonier says. “I don’t have to deal with any of those aspects. My mind is as strong as diamonds and my preparation is top-notch. So I’m more than ready, physically and mentally, to get in there and work.
“As far as him having his fight very recently, I’m sure he’s very sharp in that regard – he’s just come out of camp and went straight into a new one. But who knows? We’ve heard him talking about getting burned out, so it may affect him more than it would affect me.
“In my mind this is going to be the best Robert we’ve ever seen and I’m going to approach it as that. I’m not really concerning myself with what he’s done in the last ‘X’ amount of days, months or whatever. I can’t add any of that extra stuff to it; I can’t use it."
Still, he recognises the obvious obstacle in front.
“Robert is an elite-level fighter," Cannonier says. "Whatever threats come with that, I don’t have to explain them or expound on them. I don’t want to bring them into words, speak them into the universe so that they can present themselves on fight night.
"Robert to me is going to be a really good punching bag, a really good kicking bag and he’s going to be the door that I blast through to get to the title.
“But he’s a former champ and all good and all that wonderful stuff. As a fighter, I got the utmost respect for him - the man is real, no antics, no acting. To me, that makes for an honourable fight. When you’re in there with someone you respect, I’m going to give him everything I have.”
The lengthy time away, since that Performance of the Night, second-round win against Jack Hermansson in Denmark 13 months ago and extended because of a troublesome torn pectoral muscle, has centred his sights.
On Saturday, Cannonier's looking for a powerful, and profitable, win.
“[The fans will see] a way better version of 'The Killa Gorilla’ that they saw in Copenhagen, I can assure you that," he says. "That’s for damn sure. One thing I’m bringing to this fight is I have no fear of anything or anyone.
“As far as my skills go, I’m way better, miles ahead of that person you saw last. Be prepared to see some devastating destruction. I’m going to demolish Robert.”
