TLDR
- Christian Leroy Duncan defeated Jared Cannonier by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) at UFC Oklahoma City
- Duncan extended his UFC winning streak to five consecutive fights with the victory
- Multiple controversial moments occurred including a borderline illegal knee and fence grabs without point deductions
- Cannonier, a former title challenger ranked #10, struggled with Duncan’s volume striking and aggressive pace
- The victory represents Duncan’s biggest career win and positions him to enter the top 10 middleweight rankings
Sources: cagesidepress.com | lowkickmma.com
Christian Leroy Duncan earned the biggest win of his career Saturday night, defeating former title challenger Jared Cannonier by unanimous decision at UFC Oklahoma City. The judges scored the middleweight co-main event 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28 in favor of Duncan.
The victory extends Duncan’s winning streak to five straight fights. Cannonier entered the bout ranked #10 in the middleweight division despite his veteran status.
Duncan started the fight as the more active fighter, throwing kicks and using awkward angles to keep Cannonier off balance. Cannonier attempted to close the distance and pursued a single-leg takedown against the fence, but Duncan defended with jumping knees.
The British fighter took control later in the first round, chasing Cannonier with knees and punches that put “The Killa Gorilla” in survival mode. Cannonier managed to slow Duncan’s momentum late in the round to make it to the bell.
BACKSTAGE: 42 year-old Jared Cannonier imparts wisdom upon 30 year-old Christian Leroy Duncan following their co-main event fight at #UFCOKC 💯🤝 pic.twitter.com/ZXKDwoitkc
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) July 20, 2026
Controversial Moments in Round Two
The second round featured multiple controversial moments that drew criticism from observers. Duncan landed a kick that put Cannonier off balance early, then immediately threw a jumping knee that appeared borderline illegal.
Referee Herb Dean did not stop the action or deduct a point from Duncan. The kick did not land cleanly, which likely prevented a penalty.
Cannonier grabbed the fence at least twice during the round but also avoided a point deduction. Duncan landed a spinning elbow that staggered Cannonier and continued attacking with punches to the side of the head while Cannonier was on his knees.
Some fans questioned why officials did not credit Duncan with a knockdown when his kick sent Cannonier flying backward approximately 10 feet. The American briefly dropped Duncan during the exchanges, but Duncan remained the more active fighter throughout the round.
Final Round Seals Duncan’s Victory
Duncan maintained his aggressive pace in the third round while Cannonier searched for a way to change the fight’s direction. The 42-year-old Cannonier managed to walk Duncan to the fence and control him with underhooks.
Cannonier secured a takedown near the end of the fight but could not generate enough offense to win the round. The damage visible on Cannonier’s face reflected Duncan’s control throughout most of the 15-minute contest.
Duncan had not won a fight since losing to Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues in 2024 before starting his current streak. The victory over a former title challenger positions him to enter the top 10 rankings.
The fight featured constant back-and-forth action, with Cannonier showing resilience despite absorbing punishment. Cannonier appeared to tire in the second round after landing some damaging strikes of his own.
Duncan’s five-fight winning streak in the UFC includes four victories since his 2024 loss. The 30-year-old British fighter used his length and volume striking to control the pace against the more experienced opponent.
The unanimous decision victory at the Paycom Center marks Duncan’s most high-profile win in the UFC. All three judges scored the fight in Duncan’s favor, with two judges giving him all three rounds.
