Pros react after Jared Cannonier defeats Sean Strickland at UFC Vegas 66

Tonight’s UFC Vegas 66 event was headlined by a key middleweight bout featuring Jared Cannonier taking on Sean Strickland.

Cannonier (16-6 MMA) had entered the contest looking to rebound, this after suffering a unanimous decision loss to Israel Adesanya in his most previous effort at UFC 276. Prior to that setback, ‘Tha Killa Gorilla’ had earned back-to-back wins over Kelvin Gastelum and Derek Brunson respectively.

Meanwhile, Sean Strickland (25-5 MMA) was also returning to action for the first time since July’s UFC 276 event, where he suffered a nasty knockout loss at the hands of newly crowned middleweight champion Alex Pereira. That loss had snapped a six-fight winning streak for the brash American.

Tonight’s UFC Vegas 66 main event went the full twenty-five minutes as Jared Cannonier and Sean Strickland traded leather for five straight rounds. It was a technical battle, with Strickland seemingly landing the better head strikes, while Cannonier got the best of the kicking game. After five rounds of action ‘Tha Killa Gorilla’ was awarded a split decision win from the judges’ in attendance.

Official UFC Vegas 66 Result: Jared Cannonier def. Sean Strickland by split-decision (49-46, 46-49, 49-46)

Check out how the pros reacted to ‘Cannonier vs. Strickland’ below:

Strickland used jab and legs to control range and the round. 1-0. #UFCVegas66

— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) December 18, 2022

https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1604305917348089856

2-0 Cannonier for me #ufc66

— Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues (@gregory_mma) December 18, 2022

https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1604306720297287681

https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1604308648372617216

Damn a 28 day break for the @ufc after this. Crazy, I can’t remember a break that long.

— Funky (@Benaskren) December 18, 2022

It’s a finish or idk who won!!!

— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) December 18, 2022

Those stats super tight

— Kai Kamaka III (@kaiboikamaka) December 18, 2022

Post-fight reactions to Jared Cannonier defeating Sean Strickland at UFC Vegas 66:

Let’s gooooo that’s the right call #UFCVegas

— Abe kawa (@Abraham_kawa) December 18, 2022

https://twitter.com/UFCNews/status/1604311359159558145

Who would you like to see Jared Cannonier fight in his next Octagon appearance following his split-decision victory over Sean Strickland this evening in Las Vegas? Share your thoughts in the comment section PENN Nation!