Tonight’s UFC Vegas 66 event was headlined by a key middleweight bout featuring Jared Cannonier taking on Sean Strickland.
Cannonier (16-6 MMA) had entered the contest looking to rebound, this after suffering a unanimous decision loss to Israel Adesanya in his most previous effort at UFC 276. Prior to that setback, ‘Tha Killa Gorilla’ had earned back-to-back wins over Kelvin Gastelum and Derek Brunson respectively.
Meanwhile, Sean Strickland (25-5 MMA) was also returning to action for the first time since July’s UFC 276 event, where he suffered a nasty knockout loss at the hands of newly crowned middleweight champion Alex Pereira. That loss had snapped a six-fight winning streak for the brash American.
Tonight’s UFC Vegas 66 main event went the full twenty-five minutes as Jared Cannonier and Sean Strickland traded leather for five straight rounds. It was a technical battle, with Strickland seemingly landing the better head strikes, while Cannonier got the best of the kicking game. After five rounds of action ‘Tha Killa Gorilla’ was awarded a split decision win from the judges’ in attendance.
Official UFC Vegas 66 Result: Jared Cannonier def. Sean Strickland by split-decision (49-46, 46-49, 49-46)
Check out how the pros reacted to ‘Cannonier vs. Strickland’ below:
Strickland used jab and legs to control range and the round. 1-0. #UFCVegas66
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) December 18, 2022
I’m gonna give middleweight a go at some point 100%.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) December 18, 2022
2-0 Cannonier for me #ufc66
— Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues (@gregory_mma) December 18, 2022
Me vs middle/lhw in cerrone camp. I’m smaller here than I am now also. pic.twitter.com/tHeDeWIDe7
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) December 18, 2022
I’d be a big fridge at middleweight. But hot like oven same time, ye know yourself , catch it on ppv. Don’t know tho. It be hard work. Those rounds against those middle/lhw, they were alternating fresh each round. I’ve put in psycho work doing this job over the years.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) December 18, 2022
Damn a 28 day break for the @ufc after this. Crazy, I can’t remember a break that long.
— Funky (@Benaskren) December 18, 2022
It’s a finish or idk who won!!!
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) December 18, 2022
Those stats super tight
— Kai Kamaka III (@kaiboikamaka) December 18, 2022
Post-fight reactions to Jared Cannonier defeating Sean Strickland at UFC Vegas 66:
Let’s gooooo that’s the right call #UFCVegas
— AbeKawa.eth (@Abraham_kawa) December 18, 2022
#UFCVegas66 Official Scorecard: Jared Cannonier vs Sean Strickland 👇
All Tonight’s Scorecards ➡️ https://t.co/Y2mlGJwYfd pic.twitter.com/fzVK4Hh3Vx
— UFC News (@UFCNews) December 18, 2022
Who would you like to see Jared Cannonier fight in his next Octagon appearance following his split-decision victory over Sean Strickland this evening in Las Vegas? Share your thoughts in the comment section PENN Nation!
