Former UFC title challenger Jared Cannonier and Conor McGregor are part of an exclusive group in the modern era.
Jared Cannonier will look to make a strong case for another No. 1 contender fight when he faces fan favorite Michael ‘Venom’ Page at UFC 319 this Saturday. Despite Cannonier’s hesitance to fight Page, he gets the chance to stay in the middleweight title mix with a victory.
Cannonier is one of the veteran presences on the UFC roster, having competed in several weight classes during his promotional tenure. Before eventually finding a home at middleweight, Cannonier competed at light heavyweight and heavyweight, earning impressive wins in both weight classes.
Cannonier’s success in three different divisions puts him in the same conversation as Conor McGregor for one notable feat.
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Jared Cannonier and Conor McGregor share UFC modern era record
McGregor, like Cannonier, has fought in multiple divisions during his promotional tenure. After beginning his UFC career at featherweight, he’s fought at welterweight and lightweight in recent years, earning signature wins in both weight classes.
McGregor and Cannonier are both considered ‘knockout artists’ for their elite striking and ferocity at various points in their careers. Their accomplishments at three different weights etches their names into the UFC history books.
Cannonier and McGregor are the only UFC fighters of the modern era to earn TKO/KO wins in three different weight classes, putting them in exclusive company. McGregor solidified the feat when he knocked out Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 at 170 lbs.
Cannonier began his UFC career as a heavyweight, knocking out Cyril Asker in April 2016 before making the full-time transition to the light heavyweight division. After going 2-3 at light heavyweight, including a knockout win over Nick Roehrick in July 2017, Cannonier changed weight classes again and moved to 185 lbs.
Since moving to middleweight, Cannonier has finished the likes of Jack Hermansson, Anderson Silva, and most recently Gregory Rodrigues inside the Octagon. The 41-year-old challenged for the UFC middleweight title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 276, losing by unanimous decision.
McGregor made UFC history when he became the promotion’s first simultaneous two-division champion by knocking out Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205. He hasn’t fought since back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier in 2021.
Despite his five-year hiatus from competition, McGregor is still planning on a UFC comeback in 2026, but his latest training footage didn’t leave his fans encouraged.
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McGregor is targeting a return to the Octagon for the UFC’s planned event at The White House next July. McGregor has re-entered the UFC’s drug testing pool for the first time since he withdrew from UFC 303 due to injury.
McGregor and Michael Chandler could potentially headline the UFC’s White House event next summer, if Jon Jones doesn’t get his way. UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly touted McGregor as a potential headliner, and dismissed Jones due to concerns outside of the Octagon.
McGregor’s last win came against Cerrone, and he’s lost three of his last four fights overall, including a defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229.