At a Glance
- Christian Leroy Duncan (15 wins, 2 losses; 8-2 in the UFC) beats Jared Cannonier (18 wins, 10 losses; 11-10 in the UFC) by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) in the co-main event of UFC Oklahoma City.
- A fifth straight win for England’s Duncan, the best performance of his UFC career.
- A fourth loss in five fights for Cannonier, whose middleweight run grows more complicated.
Facing an opponent of unprecedented stature in his career, Christian Leroy Duncan delivered. In the co-main event of UFC Oklahoma City, held Saturday night at the Paycom Center, the Englishman outworked veteran Jared Cannonier over three rounds to win by unanimous decision, with scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 in his favor. A fifth straight win for Duncan, who just beat the biggest name of his young UFC career.
A Closer Fight Than Expected
The fight started one-sided. Using his speed and reach advantage, Duncan unloaded a varied attack, mixing round kicks with punching combinations, with the clear intent of finishing quickly against a visibly smaller opponent. Cannonier absorbed the pressure at first before finding the most effective counter in his toolbox: the ground game. A surprising choice for a fighter better known for his power than his wrestling, but one that let him slow the pace set by the young Englishman and keep the fight from becoming a total mismatch.
A kickboxer like Cannonier but noticeably younger and taller, Duncan missed several spinning attack attempts, but hurt his opponent with more conventional strikes, at one point forcing the veteran to turn away to reset more than once. Cannonier, though, managed to work his way back into the fight by leaning on a wrestling game more active than usual, taking Duncan down several times. The Englishman got back up each time without too much trouble, but that ground work kept him from fully finding his rhythm on the feet. The fight, which went the distance, ultimately swung Duncan’s way on all three judges’ scorecards, in a bout closer than expected.
Despite that surge, Cannonier never managed to retake control of the fight over the long haul. Duncan, aware of what was at stake, handled his opponent’s takedown attempts without panicking, willing to spend several sequences on the ground rather than take unnecessary risks to get back up. That composure, combined with his clear edge in the standup exchanges, let him keep the advantage in the eyes of all three judges through the final bell.
A Fifth Win That Opens New Doors
This win puts Christian Leroy Duncan’s record at 15 wins and 2 losses, including 8 wins and 2 losses in the UFC, and extends his winning streak to five. Against a name as established as Jared Cannonier, he delivers one of the best performances of his UFC career: the Englishman further cements his place near the top of the middleweight rankings and could now be in line for opponents ranked in the division’s top 10, or even an eliminator for a shot at the title. For Cannonier, this loss adds to a rough stretch over his last five fights and raises fresh questions about his path forward in a division he has long roamed among the toughest contenders.
The fight also confirmed once again Cannonier’s reputation as a tough out for any rising name in the division: even while losing on the cards, the veteran forced Duncan to move away from his original game plan and deal with ground situations he handles less comfortably than standup exchanges. A display of resilience that, while it does not change the final result, confirms Cannonier remains a serious test for anyone fighting in the UFC’s middleweight division, including a rising prospect like Duncan.
The Rest of the Night at UFC Oklahoma City
This co-main event was part of a night already marked by Dricus Du Plessis‘s win over Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC Oklahoma City, an event that marked the promotion’s return to the city, broadcast live on Paramount+. Both results confirm a particularly packed night for the middleweight division, between an established former champion asserting himself and a still-young contender already comfortable on the big stage.
Elsewhere on the card, several young fighters made the most of their opportunity, including Chase Hooper, who submitted Mitch Ramirez in the first round to get back in the win column after two straight knockout losses.
FAQ
Who won the co-main event of UFC Oklahoma City?
Christian Leroy Duncan beat Jared Cannonier by unanimous decision, with scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.
What is Christian Leroy Duncan’s record after this win?
Duncan’s record now stands at 15 wins and 2 losses (8-2 in the UFC), and he has won five straight.
What does this loss mean for Jared Cannonier?
It is Cannonier’s fourth loss in five fights, a stretch that raises questions about his path forward in the middleweight division.
To place these fighters in context, see the current UFC rankings, and for upcoming dates, the 2026 UFC schedule.
