Christian Leroy Duncan just put the UFC middleweight division on notice

Christian Leroy Duncan extended his winning streak to five fights with a dominant unanimous decision victory over former middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier at UFC Oklahoma City's co-main event. The English striker put on a striking clinic, landing several significant blows and deploying effective spinning attacks that dropped and rocked the 42-year-old veteran, who nonetheless saw out all three rounds. Duncan's win streak now includes victories over Andrey Pulyaev, Eryk Anders, Marco Tulio, Roman Dolidze, and Cannonier, improving his UFC record to 8–2 after a rough 3–2 start in the Octagon. Post-fight, Duncan expressed confidence that his resume now warrants a place in the middleweight Top 10. "I think that solidifies my place in the middleweight division," Duncan said, adding he expects single-digit rankings and matchups against big names ahead. He praised Cannonier's toughness, acknowledging why the veteran earned his "Gorilla" moniker. Duncan, a former Cage Warriors champion, appears positioned for a significant step up in competition as he pursues contender status at 185 pounds.