Robert Whittaker isn’t going anywhere, in terms of contention for the middleweight crown, as the former champ bested Jared Cannnonier today at UFC 254.

Round one

Cannonier scored with a hard calf kick right out of the gate. Cannonier tripped Whittaker with another kick moments later but the former champ popped right back up. More calf kicks from Cannonier. Whittaker grazed the middleweight with a huge left not long after. Whittaker just missed with a head kick seconds later. Whittaker started to get into a groove by mid round with combos. The latter continued to stay busy with jabs but Cannonier scored with more calf kicks. Cannonier fired in a hard kick to the body right before the round ended.

Round two

Whittaker tagged Cannonier with a nice left not long in. The latter continued to fire kicks at the former champ. The lead leg of Whittaker was wearing it from the kicks of Cannonier. Whittaker stayed busy with jabs and threatened with right straights. Cannonier just missed with a massive right hook. The right eye of Cannonier was swelling considerably as Whittaker continued to plant jabs. Late in the round, Whittaker momentarily took Cannonier down with a nicely timed sweep. Cannonier scored with more calf kicks. Whittaker fired a nice combo right before the round ended.

Round three

Whittaker was still light on his feet to begin round three and continued to work behind his jab. Moments later, Whittaker tagged Cannonier with a head kick that rocked him badly. The action spilled to the floor and Whittaker started working from the top. The latter started hunting for an arm-triangle but Cannonier defended. Whittaker moved into full mount and a bloodied Cannonier gave up his back. The latter, however, worked his way back to his feet Wow. 

Whittaker took a hard body shot from Cannonier  and moments later, he tagged the former champ again. Whittaker, however, pushed Cannonier to the fence and the final horn went.

The former champ was awarded two rounds by all three judges. Whittaker is 2-0 now since he lost the middleweight title to Israel Adesanya last October.

UFC 254 results

Here are the results so far for UFC 254, which is taking place on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

Robert Whittaker def. Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Alexander Volkov def, Walt Harris via TKO (body kick & punches) R2, 1:15
Phillip Hawes def. Jacob Malkoun via KO (punches) R1, 0:18
Lauren Murphy def. Liliya Shakirova via submission (rear-naked-choke) R2, 3:31
Magomed Ankalaev def. Ion Cutelaba via KO (punches) R1, 4:19
Tai Tuivasa def. Stefan Struve via TKO (punches) R1, 4:59
Casey Kenney def. Nathaniel Wood via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Shavkat Rakhmonov def. Alex Oliveira via submission (guillotine choke) R1, 4:40
Sam Alvey vs. Da Un Jung ends in split draw (28-29, 29-28, 28-28)
Miranda Maverick def. Liana Jojua via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) R1, 5:00
Joel Alvarez def. Alexander Yakovlev via submission (armbar) R1, 3:00

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