UFC middleweight Jared Cannonier knew he’d throw down with the “Italian Dream” Marvin Vettori some day.
That day just happens to arrive this Saturday, with Cannonier looking to make it two straight wins since his title fight loss against Israel Adesanya last year. “The Killa Gorilla” bounced back in December with a split decision victory against Sean Strickland.
“I feel like it was one of the last ones. One of the last guys at the top of the division that I haven’t got into the octagon with,” Cannonier (16-6) said during Wednesday’s UFC Vegas 75 media day. “I feel like it was only a matter of time before we crossed paths. I wouldn’t say I’m crossing names off, that sounds a little bit pretentious if you will. But sure.”
Cannonier has no doubt had years to study Vettori’s game, but despite that, he’s not entering the fight with any preconceived notions.
“You can’t really go into these fights expecting anything, or you’re going to be surprised. So I’m just going to be more open-minded. Just be more open-minded, and prepared for anything he brings. I’m going to leave it at that.”
That, despite Vettori being labelled a grappler of late. Besides which, “if he does want to grapple, it’ll be to his detriment,” Cannonier stated. “Anybody who’s ever tried to grapple me, if he’s watched my fights, it’s been to their detriment. It hasn’t been easy to hold me down, and it’s gonna be damn near impossible to get me down now, because I feel like I’ve grown a lot in that area. You may even see me take him down, to be honest.”
Vettori is notorious for his firebrand, boisterous personality — or for being a hothead, put another way. It’s nothing that appears to concern Jared Cannonier, however.
“He is who he is. He’s got all the confidence in the world in himself, and rightfully so. He’s put in a lot of work, he’s been in the top of the division for a long time. I ran into him yesterday, a little minor small talk, ‘how you doing,’ he responded respectfully,” stated Cannonier. “I shook his hand, I expressed it was going to be a pleasure and an honor to get into the cage with one of the best in the division. He sort of reciprocated.”
“It’s all respect from me. I respect any man who’s walking the same path that I’m walking, walking a similar path that I’m waking,” Cannonier continued. “I’m not hater, ain’t go no hate towards the man. I don’t have to be angry with him to go in there and do what I have to do to get that finish and put a hurt on him. This is all business as far as that goes. I don’t wish nothing ill upon him. He is who he is, we all have that God-given right to be who we want to be, and I don’t see him doing anything that would put him on the executioner’s block if you will.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 75 media day appearance by Jared Cannonier above.
