Jared Cannonier Bio
Jared Christopher Cannonier, born on March 16, 1984, in Dallas, Texas, is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is recognized as a dangerous striker with a calm presence inside the octagon. Nicknamed “Tha Killa Gorilla,” Cannonier has built his career on knockout power, tactical patience, and the ability to compete at the highest level across multiple weight classes. As of October 21, 2025, he holds a professional record of 18 wins and 9 losses and is ranked among the top middleweights in the world.
Early Life and Background
Jared Cannonier was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, before eventually settling in Alaska, the state that would become a defining backdrop for his fighting career. Before pursuing mixed martial arts, he served in the United States Army for three years, gaining the discipline and structure that would later support his transition into combat sports. His military career ended when he was discharged after testing positive for marijuana, and he took up work in Alaska while deciding on his next step.
It was in Alaska that Cannonier discovered mixed martial arts and began training seriously. He began his amateur career in early 2011, and he won his first two amateur fights by knockout, immediately showcasing the striking power that would become his trademark. Within months, he decided to turn professional, signing up for his first sanctioned bout in June 2011 in Alaska.
Path to MMA
Cannonier made his professional MMA debut in June 2011 and spent the next several years competing sporadically across the regional Alaskan circuit. He built an unblemished 7–0 record during this period, training out of Legacy Jiu Jitsu Alaska MMA Lab, the gym that remains his team to this day. His string of finishes drew the attention of major promotions, and in October 2014, it was announced that he had signed a contract with the UFC.
Although his UFC path began at Heavyweight, Cannonier eventually transitioned to Light Heavyweight in 2016 and then to Middleweight in 2018, where he has found his most consistent success. The willingness to move between weight divisions has shaped his career and exposed him to a wide range of top-level competition, including former champions and longtime contenders.
Jared Cannonier Career
Early UFC Career (2015–2017)
Cannonier made his UFC debut on January 3, 2015, at UFC 182, facing Shawn Jordan in a Heavyweight bout. He lost the fight via first-round knockout, a setback he would use as motivation in the years that followed. An injury forced him out of a scheduled August 2015 bout, and an 18-month layoff followed before he returned in April 2016 at UFC Fight Night: Rothwell vs. dos Santos.
He knocked out Cyril Asker with a combination of elbows and punches, earning his first Performance of the Night bonus. Later in 2016, he moved to Light Heavyweight and defeated Ion Cuțelaba by unanimous decision at The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale, picking up a Fight of the Night award. In 2017, he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Glover Teixeira but bounced back with a third-round TKO of Nick Roehrick at The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale.
Middleweight Breakthrough (2018–2020)
After a first-round TKO loss to Dominick Reyes in May 2018, Cannonier made the permanent move to Middleweight later that year. He responded by stopping David Branch via second-round TKO at UFC 230, earning another Performance of the Night bonus. The victory signaled a new chapter in his career, as he began competing against elite middleweights with much sharper results.
In May 2019, he stunned fans by defeating former Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva via first-round TKO at UFC 237 when a leg kick left Silva unable to continue. He followed this with a second-round TKO of Jack Hermansson in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 18, securing a third Performance of the Night award. A torn pectoral muscle kept him out of action through much of 2020, and he returned to lose a unanimous decision to former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 254, during which he suffered a broken arm.
Title Contention Era (2021–2023)
Cannonier began 2021 by outpointing Kelvin Gastelum via unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN 29, then continued his surge with a second-round knockout of Derek Brunson at UFC 271 in February 2022, earning a Performance of the Night award. His rise earned him a UFC Middleweight Championship shot, and on July 2, 2022, at UFC 276, he faced Israel Adesanya for the title but lost by unanimous decision.
He rebounded with a split-decision win over Sean Strickland in December 2022 and then turned in one of his most impressive performances in June 2023, defeating Marvin Vettori by unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN 47. During the bout, he set the UFC middleweight record for most significant strikes landed in a single fight with 241, earning a Fight of the Night bonus in the process. A torn MCL in October 2023 forced him out of a scheduled December bout.
Recent Fights (2024–2025)
Cannonier returned in June 2024 at UFC on ESPN 57, where he lost to Nassourdine Imavov via fourth-round TKO in a stoppage widely viewed as controversial. Two months later, he dropped a unanimous decision to Caio Borralho in the main event of UFC on ESPN 62, though the fight earned him a Fight of the Night award. He returned to the win column on February 15, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 251, stopping Gregory Rodrigues via fourth-round TKO in the main event for another Fight of the Night bonus.
On August 16, 2025, Cannonier faced Michael Page at UFC 319 and lost by unanimous decision. Despite the loss, he remains a respected veteran inside the middleweight division.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Cannonier’s most memorable moments are his first-round TKO of Anderson Silva at UFC 237 and his record-setting 241 significant strikes against Marvin Vettori at UFC on ESPN 47. He has earned multiple Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonus awards throughout his UFC tenure, cementing his reputation as one of the most exciting middleweights in the promotion.
Jared Cannonier Career Wins
Jared Cannonier has compiled 18 professional victories across multiple weight divisions since 2011, with 3 by knockout, 2 by submission, and 6 by decision. He has faced a long list of established names in the UFC, including former champions and ranked contenders, and continues to compete at the top of the middleweight division.
UFC Highlights
Cannonier’s UFC win ledger includes notable victories over Cyril Asker, Ion Cuțelaba, Nick Roehrick, David Branch, Anderson Silva, Jack Hermansson, Kelvin Gastelum, Derek Brunson, Sean Strickland, Marvin Vettori, and Gregory Rodrigues. His first UFC finish came against Asker in 2016, and his most recent win came via fourth-round TKO over Rodrigues in February 2025. These performances have earned him several post-fight bonus awards, including multiple Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night honors.
Other Wins and Performances
Before joining the UFC, Cannonier built a 7–0 record on the regional Alaskan circuit, finishing opponents with a mix of knockouts and submissions. He holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which complements his striking-heavy approach inside the cage.
Jared Cannonier Family
Personal Life
Jared Cannonier currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona, though he has long ties to Alaska, where he began his professional career and where his team, Legacy Jiu Jitsu Alaska MMA Lab, is based. He is a U.S. Army veteran, having served for three years before transitioning to mixed martial arts.
2025 Season Performance
Jared Cannonier’s 2025 campaign began with a signature win, as he stopped Gregory Rodrigues via fourth-round TKO in the main event of UFC Fight Night 251 on February 15, 2025, earning a Fight of the Night bonus. The victory was an important bounce-back following consecutive losses in 2024 and reaffirmed his standing as a dangerous middleweight contender.
On August 16, 2025, Cannonier faced Michael Page at UFC 319 and dropped a unanimous decision, a result that moved him further down the rankings. As of October 21, 2025, he holds a professional record of 18 wins and 9 losses and is ranked No. 10 in the UFC middleweight division.
With a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and years of experience at the top level, Cannonier remains a respected veteran in the division. His mix of knockout power, durability, and tactical patience continues to make him a tough matchup for any middleweight heading into the rest of 2025 and beyond.