Jared
Cannonier revealed that a kick from Robert
Whittaker broke his left arm early on in their
UFC 254 co-main event encounter this past Saturday night.
“That didn’t go exactly how I wanted but my spirits remain high and
I’m happy with how I fought, all things considered. The very first
kick he threw broke or fractured my left ulna,” Cannonier wrote on
Instagram. “I couldn’t find my [groove] and adjust quickly to get
the W so I’ll take my L with pride.”
While Cannonier enjoyed success attacking with heavy low kicks, he
absorbed numerous jabs from his opponent and was staggered by a
jab-high kick combination from Whittaker in the third frame.
Although the MMA Lab product rallied to wobble the ex-champ with a
right hand late in the bout, it wasn’t enough to prevent him from
losing a unanimous decision.
“[Robert Whittaker] certainly lived up to my expectations before
and after the fight. Congrats mate. Enjoy [Christmas] and the new
[baby],” Cannonier wrote. “It was a hell of an experience to be
here. Can’t wait to go again.”
Prior to the bout, reigning middleweight champion Israel
Adesanya indicated that a victory by Cannonier would cement him
as the division’s No. 1 contender. Instead, it appears that a
rematch between “The Last Stylebender” and Whittaker could be in
the offing, as UFC president Dana White described that option as
“very appealing” at Saturday’s post-fight press conference.