Christian Leroy Duncan added the biggest win of his UFC career on Saturday night, earning a unanimous decision over veteran contender Jared Cannonier after three competitive rounds at UFC Oklahoma.
Duncan Shines Against Experienced Veteran
Facing one of the middleweight division’s toughest names, Duncan relied on speed, movement, and creative striking to stay a step ahead of Cannonier throughout the contest. The veteran repeatedly looked to slow the action with clinch work and takedown attempts, but Duncan consistently found answers while creating the more memorable moments on the feet.
The opening round saw Duncan mix side kicks, oblique kicks, knees, and spinning attacks to keep Cannonier guessing. Although Cannonier pressured him against the fence and threatened with wrestling, Duncan reversed several positions and nearly secured a finish after hurting Cannonier with a sharp combination late in the frame. Cannonier responded with a clean punch that briefly knocked Duncan off balance before ending the round with a takedown.
Striking Edge Carries Duncan Through
Duncan continued to showcase his diverse offense in the second round. A spinning back kick sent Cannonier to the canvas early, while spinning elbows, straight punches, and timely counters repeatedly found the target. Cannonier answered with elbows inside the clinch and eventually secured another takedown, but Duncan quickly scrambled back into top position before the horn.
The final round followed a similar pattern. Duncan landed crisp jabs, body kicks, and inside leg kicks from range, while Cannonier spent much of the round pressing him against the cage in search of takedowns. Duncan repeatedly worked back to his feet and closed the fight with effective knees from the Thai clinch before escaping the final exchanges.
Judges Reward Duncan’s Performance
When the scorecards were read, the judges sided with Duncan’s cleaner and more impactful offense, awarding him a unanimous decision victory with scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28.
The result gives Duncan another significant victory in the middleweight division after neutralizing Cannonier’s wrestling and controlling much of the striking battle over 15 minutes.