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UFC Fight Night Odds, Picks & Predictions: Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland (2022)

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Since going +70% (+29.5 Units) in October and November with our free UFC predictions, we are back to around 60% but have still yet to produce a losing card in the month of December. While there is plenty of value from top to bottom in what will be the final UFC card of the year this weekend, let’s take a closer look at the main event of the evening featuring two top middleweights in Jared Cannonier and Sean Strickland.

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

Betting Profile: Jared Cannonier (15-6-0)

Last Five Fights (L-W-W-L-W)

With just two losses since November 2018, Cannonier has turned in some great performances over the past four years, earning himself a title shot in July. Despite losing, Cannonier bounced right back to another main event in this one and looks to end his year strong to set up one final title run in 2023.

Betting Profile: Sean Strickland (25-4-0)

Last Five Fights (L-W-W-W-W)

For Strickland, a six-fight winning streak was stopped dead in its tracks in July, a first knockout at the hands of Alex “Potan” Pereira. In fights that got out of the first round, Strickland has not lost a fight since April 2017 to eventual champion Kamaru Usman.

One area Strickland holds a massive edge in this one is on the ground, with a takedown average of more than 5x of his opponent at 1.14 per 15 minutes. As the more methodical fighter, Strickland will try to take Cannonier into deep waters late in the rounds. The question will come down to whether he is allowed to.

Bottom Line

“The Killa Gorilla” still has an 80% finish rate going into this contest despite three of his last four fights going the distance. I anticipate Cannonier to be hungry to finish this fight quickly as he makes one final push for another title shot after going five rounds with Izzy in July (loss).

Strickland’s first KO/TKO loss since 2018 came in the first round to current middleweight champion Alex Pereira his last time in the octagon. Even so, 56% of his victories have been inside the distance, and given his propensity to stand and throw, I anticipate a similar approach to Cannonier here.

I’m predicting there will be fireworks in this bout, which is scheduled for five rounds and be the final one of the UFC’s calendar year.

Best Bet: Under 4.5 Rounds (-105 via DraftKings)

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