Christian Leroy Duncan outclasses Jared Cannonier. Duncan announced himself as a legitimate force in the UFC middleweight division with a masterful performance against former title challenger Jared Cannonier.
While Dricus du Plessis and Kamaru Usman headlined UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City, the co-main event featured a compelling middleweight clash between seasoned veteran Jared Cannonier and surging contender Christian Leroy Duncan.
Jared Cannonier entered the contest seeking to reverse a difficult run of results. The former UFC middleweight title challenger had lost three of his previous four fights, including defeats to Nassourdine Imavov, Caio Borralho, and Michael “Venom” Page. His lone victory during that stretch came in an impressive fourth-round TKO over Gregory Rodrigues in February 2025, a performance that earned him Fight of the Night honors. Despite the setbacks, Cannonier remained one of the division’s most respected veterans. Known for his devastating knockout power and durability, “The Killa Gorilla” viewed the matchup with Duncan as an opportunity to prove that experience could still overcome youth and momentum.
Christian Leroy Duncan entered UFC Fight Night riding a four-fight winning streak and enjoying the best form of his UFC career. After suffering a unanimous decision loss to Gregory Rodrigues in 2024, the English middleweight bounced back with consecutive victories over Andrey Pulyaev at UFC London, Eryk Anders, Marco Tulio, and Roman Dolidze. Two of those wins came by knockout and earned him Performance of the Night bonuses. Known for his explosive striking, athleticism, and creative finishing ability, Duncan steadily climbed the middleweight rankings and arrived in Oklahoma City as one of the division’s brightest prospects.
The opening horn sounded, and Cannonier immediately took the center of the Octagon, looking to pressure the younger fighter with his trademark power. Duncan, however, stuck to the game plan and fighting long behind his jab, he stayed light on his feet, circling away from danger while peppering Cannonier with clean straight punches, calf kicks, and body shots. Every time Cannonier tried to close the distance, Duncan fired quick combinations before exiting at an angle, making it difficult for Cannonier to plant his feet and unleash his heavy hands. The veteran landed a few solid punches of his own, but Duncan’s speed, movement, and cleaner striking gave him the edge in the opening five minutes.
The second round began. Knowing he was likely behind, Cannonier came out with more urgency. He walked Duncan down and searched for the fight-changing shot, throwing with bad intentions whenever he found an opening.
But Duncan refused to stand still; the British middleweight continued to mix up his attacks, snapping Cannonier’s head back with crisp jabs, following with straight rights, and chopping at the legs whenever the veteran stepped forward.
His footwork frustrated Cannonier throughout the round, forcing the former title challenger to reset repeatedly instead of putting together sustained offense. By the end of the second round, Duncan looked firmly in control of the fight.
With one round left, Cannonier knew he needed something big. The veteran pushed the pace, throwing heavier combinations and trying to trap Duncan against the fence. Duncan remained calm under pressure, and rather than engaging in a firefight, he continued to fight smart, sticking and moving, landing the cleaner shots, and making Cannonier miss more often than he connected. As the final seconds ticked away, Duncan finished the fight strongly, capping off a disciplined performance that showcased his striking and composure. When the scorecards were read, Christian Leroy Duncan defeated Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
This was more than just another victory; it was a statement. By outclassing a proven veteran and former title challenger, Duncan announced himself as a genuine threat in the middleweight division. His speed, technical striking, and ability to execute a smart game plan against a dangerous finisher could earn him a matchup with a top-ranked opponent next.
For Cannonier, the loss is another difficult setback. Despite his trademark toughness and constant pressure, he struggled to consistently find the target against a younger, faster, and more elusive opponent.
Check out UFC Oklahoma City results below.
Main card
Dricus du Plessis def. Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46 x2)
Christian Leroy Duncan def. Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Chase Hooper def. Mitch Ramirez via submission (RNC) (R1, 2:15)
Fatima Kline def. Tabatha Ricci via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Tommy McMillen def. Alberto Montes via third-round TKO (3:29)
Prelims
Jose Miguel Delgado def. Austin Bashi via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani def. Seokhyeon Ko via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Felipe Franco def. Levi Rodrigues Jr. via second-round TKO (1:40)
Ezra Elliott def. Damien Anderson via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Alden Coria def. Stewart Nicoll via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
RJ Harris def. Alvin Hines via first-round TKO (1:40)
Dione Barbosa def. Anna Melisano via submission (RNC) (R1, 4:04)
