← UFC Fight Night: du Plessis vs. UsmanJared CannonierChristian Leroy Duncan

Jared Cannonier vs Christian Leroy DuncanUFC Fight Night: du Plessis vs. Usman

Jared Cannonier vs Christian Leroy Duncan — Middleweight — was scheduled for Saturday, July 18, 2026 at UFC Fight Night: du Plessis vs. Usman in Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Official result not yet recorded. Picks Terminal covers the matchup with a win-probability estimate, a matchup breakdown and fight intel drawn from public sources.

slot.Co-Main · MiddleweightID · DF8C99F5-E143-4ACA-B24F-EDD4444417D2

Rank #11 Middleweight · Middleweight

Jared Cannonier

"Tha Killa Gorilla"

18-9-0 · Striker / Power Puncher

Rank #10 · Middleweight

Christian Leroy Duncan

"CLD"

15-2-0 · MMA

Win Probability Model · v4.2

Cannonier

44%

Edge12%

Duncan

56%

Skill Comparison

Striking

Wrestling

Cardio

Takedown Defense

Chin Durability

Physical Attributes

CannonierMetricDuncan

5'11"Height6' 2"

77.5"Reach79"

42Age31

OrthodoxStance—

56%Finish Rate73%

Career Records

CannonierMetricDuncan

10Wins by KO/TKO10

0Wins by Submission1

—First-Round Finishes5

4.42Sig. Strikes / Min4.45

4.35Sig. Strikes Absorbed / Min2.36

49%Striking Accuracy58%

56%Striking Defense54%

—Knockdown Avg / 15 min0.43

0.54Takedowns / 15 min0.43

40%Takedown Accuracy16%

64%Takedown Defense58%

0Submissions / 15 min0

—Avg. Fight Time10:33

Strike Distribution

Duncan

Sig. Strikes by Target

Primary Target Head

Head

49%

Body

17%

Leg

34%

Sig. Strikes by Position

Standing74%

Clinch19%

Ground7%

Primary Position Standing

Fight Intel

Public Consensus

Cannonier23%

Duncan77%

Public sentiment favors Duncan

Aggregated public sentiment, shown as analytics context only. Not odds and not betting advice. 18+.

In-Depth Analysis

Model favors Duncan

Key Advantages

Cannonier possesses significant experience against elite title-level competition (Whittaker, Adesanya, Silva).
Duncan’s 2.59 SApM indicates superior defensive spacing compared to Cannonier’s high 4.35 SApM.
Duncan holds a 4-inch height advantage and a reach edge, facilitating his outside striking game.
Cannonier’s 49% striking accuracy vs Duncan’s 57% suggests the younger fighter is more efficient.

Potential Concerns

Cannonier is 42 years old and has suffered 5 KO/TKO losses in his career, raising durability questions.
Duncan’s 16% takedown accuracy suggests he may struggle to dictate where the fight takes place if forced to grapple.
Cannonier’s 64% takedown defense is vulnerable to high-level chain wrestling, though Duncan rarely utilizes it.

AI Analysis

A battle between an aging, powerful veteran and a surging, creative athletic prospect.

Forecast

The fight will likely stay standing as both men have relatively low takedown averages (0.54 vs 0.33 per 15 min). Expect Duncan to use his 6'3" frame and switch-hitting to keep the 42-year-old Cannonier at range, peppering him with elusive shots to exploit Cannonier's 56% striking defense. Cannonier will attempt to close the distance to land his trademark power hooks, but the speed differential will favor the younger man. As the fight progresses, Cannonier’s durability may be tested by Duncan’s 57% accuracy. I forecast Christian Leroy Duncan winning a competitive but clear unanimous decision, or a late TKO as Cannonier fades in the third round.

Skill ratings, win probability, advantages, concerns, and forecast are AI-generated predictions based on scraped fighter profiles — not official UFC stats or guarantees.

Matchup Breakdown

This matchup features a massive age gap (11 years) and contrasting striking styles. Cannonier relies on heavy leg kicks and a high-volume power-punching approach (4.42 SLpM), but his defensive metrics (4.35 SApM) are concerning for a fighter in his 40s. Duncan is a highly efficient switch-striker who lands at a 57% clip while remaining difficult to hit (2.59 SApM). Statistically, Duncan is the fresher, more accurate, and more elusive fighter. While Cannonier’s experience is a factor, his statistical decline in defensive liability makes him a target for Duncan's diverse offensive arsenal.

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