Cannonier vs Strickland Predictions: This Is Essentially a Pick ‘em Fight

• This will be the final UFC event of 2023
• Top-10 middleweights main event
• Cannonier vs Strickland was originally scheduled for October 15

UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs Strickland Odds

The odds for this match are provided by the FanDuel sportsbook. Click the link to place your bets.

UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs Strickland - Picks & Predictions

Jared Cannonier vs Sean Strickland - Middleweight Division

Sean Strickland (-115)

Arman Tsarukyan vs Damir Ismagulov - Lightweight Division

Arman Tsarukyan (-184)

Amir Albazi vs Alessandro Costa - Flyweight Division

Amir Albazi (-480)

Alex Caceres vs Julian Erosa - Featherweight Division

Julian Erosa (-184)

Drew Dober vs Bobby Green - Lightweight Division

Drew Dober (-162)

Michal Oleksiejczuk vs Cody Brundage - Middleweight Division

Michal Oleksiejczuk (-295)

Jared Cannonier vs Sean Strickland - Middleweight Division

Coming off of a championship loss to Israel Adesanya, Jared Cannonier now takes on the man who most recently lost to the new middleweight champion Alex Pereira: Sean Strickland.

Cannonier rode a two-fight winning streak into his fight with Adesanya at UFC 276 but was defeated via unanimous decision.

Strickland was enjoying a six-fight winning streak prior to his bout with Alex Pereira at UFC 276, where he was then knocked out in the first round. Pereira went on to defeat Adesanya and become the undisputed UFC middleweight champion.

These two fighters were originally slated to fight on October 15 but Strickland was forced to pull out due to a finger infection.

Strickland will be the taller man but it is Cannonier who will have a 1.5-inch reach advantage. 

This is essentially a pick ‘em fight, with Cannonier listed at -111 and Strickland listed at -115.

To find out how to place your bets for this middleweight main event, check out our ultimate UFC betting guide to get started.

Arman Tsarukyan vs Damir Ismagulov - Lightweight Division

The co-main event will see up-and-coming top-15 lightweights go toe-to-toe as number-nine-ranked Arman Tsarukyan takes on number-twelve-ranked Damir Ismagulov.

Tsarukyan was riding a five-fight winning streak heading into his last bout against Mateusz Gamrot. However, his streak was snapped when he lost via unanimous decision in what was deemed the fight of the night.

Ismagulov is riding a 19-fight winning streak that includes five wins in the UFC. He is coming off of a split-decision win over Guram Kutateladze.

Despite standing one-inch taller than Tsarukyan, Ismagulov will be at a two-inch reach disadvantage. And despite his impressive winning streak, Ismagulov is listed as a +142 underdog.

Amir Albazi vs Alessandro Costa - Flyweight Division

With a split-decision win on the Contender Series in August, Alessandro Costa will make his UFC debut this Saturday.

Costa is riding a seven-fight winning streak heading into his fight against Amir Albazi.

Albazi, winner of four straight, has won his last three fights in the UFC - two of which were by first-round submission.

Albazi will stand one-inch taller than Costa and have a one-inch reach advantage. He is listed at -480; the largest betting favorite on the main card.

Alex Caceres vs Julian Erosa - Featherweight Division

A former competitor on the Ultimate Fighter series, Alex Caceres recently had his five-fight winning streak snapped at the hands of Sodiq Yusuff this past March. 

He takes on Julian Erosa on Saturday; a fighter who has won his last three straight. Erosa last fought at UFC 279 in September where he earned a unanimous decision win over Hakeem Dawodu in a catchweight bout.

Erosa will stand four inches taller than Caceres but that will only amount to a one-inch reach advantage. He is listed at -184 to win.

Drew Dober vs Bobby Green - Lightweight Division

Bobby Green will make his octagon return Saturday following a brief six-month USADA suspension due to testing positive for DHEA.

Green last fought against Islam Makhachev in February, where he was defeated via first-round TKO in a last-minute catchweight bout.

Drew Dober has won back-to-back fights, both by KO. Dober last fought at UFC 277, earning a performance bonus for his knockout of Rafael Alves.

Despite being shorter by two inches, Dober is listed as the -162 favorite.

Michal Oleksiejczuk vs Cody Brundage - Middleweight Division

With a record of 2-1 since joining the UFC, Cody Brundage has won his last two fights within the first round.

He most recently defeated Tresean Gore via TKO this past Summer.

Michal Oleksiejczuk is 1-1 in his past two fights. He last fought in August, returning to middleweight for the first time since his MMA debut back in 2014. He defeated Sam Alvey via first-round TKO.

These two fighters stand at equal height but it is Oleksiejczuk - a -295 favorite - who will have a two-inch reach advantage.

How to Watch UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs Strickland

• LOCATION: UFC Apex, Enterprise, Nevada
• WHEN: Saturday, December 17
• TIME: 7PM EST
• HOW: ESPN, ESPN+, TSN5