HOUSTON – While everything around Jared Cannonier, appears to be in flux, he’s staying calm, patient and, most importantly of all, ready for UFC 248.
The UFC middleweight contender was slated to fight former champion Robert Whittaker on the March 7 pay-per-view card in Las Vegas, but following Whittaker’s withdrawal for personal reasons, it seemed the UFC would turn to Darren Till to step in and take the fight.
However, with just one month to go before fight night in Vegas, no bout agreement has been signed. Cannonier (13-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) says he understands the reasons behind the situation, but also would appreciate things being sorted out as quickly as possible.
“That’s a good way to describe it, a state of purgatory, or a state of limbo. I dunno. It is what it is,” Cannonier told MMA Junkie on Saturday ahead of UFC 247. “I completely understand, given the circumstance, with Till holding out for reasons he’s holding out for. So I just happen to be caught in the line of fire, I suppose.”
While Till, a former welterweight title challenger, and the UFC attempt to thrash out a deal that would make the middleweight contender fight a reality, Cannonier is staying level-headed and focusing on his preparation, regardless of the situation around him.
“All of my work leading up to this point has prepared me to deal with this sort of thing, so it is what it is,” Cannonier explained. “I continue to train. I’m continuing to have fun doing all that, which is the reason why I do it. I’m a martial artist. This is just a part of it. It would be preferable that this didn’t happen and that we already had this thing squared away, and everybody knew what was going to happen March 7. But right now, nobody knows what’s going to happen.”
One reason for Cannonier being so keen on taking part in UFC 248 is the fact that his end goal, the 185-pound title, will be contested in the main event. Given the fact that champion Israel Adesanya’s opponent, Cuban powerhouse Yoel Romero, has struggled making weight in the past, Cannonier wants to be in pole position to step in just in case something happens again.
“There’s also the middleweight title on that thing. What happens if something happens there?” he asked. “That’s a big ‘what if,’ but what if something happens? I would definitely like to be in the position to step right on in and fill that spot.”
