Jared Cannonier to Serve as Backup Fighter for UFC 293 Main Event

If something goes awry with the scheduled UFC 293 headliner, the promotion has a contingency plan in place.

According to MMAjunkie.com, Jared Cannonier is in Sydney and will weigh in as the backup fighter for Saturday’s middleweight championship clash between Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland.

Cannonier challenged for middleweight gold at UFC 276 in July 2022, when he dropped a five-round verdict against Adesanya at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He has since rebounded to earn a split-decision triumph over Strickland at UFC Fight Night 216 and a unanimous verdict against Marvin Vettori at UFC on ESPN 47 on June 17. “The Killa Gorilla” has won seven of his last nine Octagon appearances dating back to November 2018.

UFC 293 takes place at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney and will also see Alexander Volkov lock horns with Tai Tuivasa in the evening’s heavyweight co-main event. The main card airs on pay-per-view via ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.