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UFC 271 Odds: Derek Brunson vs. Jared Cannonier Odds, Prediction

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Cannonier is a -160 favourite on the MMA odds and Brunson +125.

Derek Brunson UFC 271 Odds

UFC 271 - Derek Brunson v Jared Cannonier

  • Jared Cannonier -160
  • Derek Brunson +120

The middleweight champion is Israel Adesanya, and he’s fighting No. 1 contender Robert Whittaker in the main event about an hour or so after this bout. Brunson, a 38-year-old American, is 23-7 and ranked No. 4 in the division. He was three-time NCAA Division II All-American wrestler at University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Brunson has never fought for a title in the UFC and time is running out at his age, but maybe it’s possible with another couple of victories as he’s on a five-fight winning streak. That followed a loss to Adesanya by first-round TKO at UFC 230, and Brunson also has lost to Whittaker, by first-round TKO in 2016. Brunson, who goes without a nickname, was last in the Octagon in September and beat Darren Till by third-round rear-naked choke. Brunson’s 14 victories in UFC middleweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Michael Bisping (16) and his five-fight winning streak at middleweight is the third-longest active in the division.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound southpaw lands 3.45 significant strikes per minute with 47 per cent accuracy and absorbs 2.68 with 53 per cent defence. His takedown average is 3.15 per 15 minutes with 34 per cent accuracy, and his takedown defence is 94 per cent. Brunson relies heavily on his wrestling as one could imagine with his background.

Twelve of Brunson’s wins are by KO/TKO, seven by decision and four by submission. He is one of six fighters in modern UFC history to register a knockout and submission victory in less than one minute each. He has never been submitted, losing five times by KO/TKO and two by decision.

For method of victory Saturday, Brunson by points/decision is +250, followed by KO/TKO/DQ at +450 and submission +900.

Jared Cannonier UFC 271 Odds

Cannonier, 37, is 14-5 in his pro career and ranked third in the division. The American has fought some of the best on the planet, losing in December 2017 to Jan Blachowicz by unanimous decision, beating the legendary (but past-his-prime) Anderson Silva via first-round TKO at UFC 237, and losing to Robert Whittaker in October 2020 by unanimous decision. Cannonier broke his arm in that bout, which was part of the reason he didn’t return to the Octagon until this past August when he beat Kelvin Gastelum by unanimous decision.

“The Killa Gorilla” is one of 12 fighters in UFC history to win fights in three weight classes, doing so at middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight. He and Conor McGregor are the only fighters in UFC history to earn knockout victories in three weight classes.

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Cannonier lands 3.60 significant strikes per minutes with 49 per cent accuracy and absorbs 3.19 with 64 per cent defence. His takedown average is 0.12 per 15 minutes with 33 per cent accuracy, and his takedown defence 62 per cent. Nine of his wins are by KO/TKO, three by decision and two by submission. Three losses are via the judges and two by KO/TKO. His favoured method of victory is by KO/TKO/DQ at +120, followed by points/decision at +350 and submission +1600.

Neither fighter has a reach advantage. The over-under rounds is 2.5, with the under a slight favourite.

UFC 271 Prediction: Brunson vs. Cannonier

Cannonier by KO/TKO/DQ at +120