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Nassourdine Imavov achieved the biggest victory of his career in the UFC Louisville main event, though not without a touch of controversy. The match was held at the KFC Yum! Center saw Imavov triumph over Jared Cannonier, but the nature of the stoppage left many fans questioning the outcome.
Imavov appeared to be rolling towards a knockout when referee Jason Herzog footed in and halted the fight at 1:34 in the fourth round. The end came after Imavov landed a powerful right hand that left Cannonier on wobbly legs. Imavov then unleashed a calculated combination while carefully avoiding any potential counterattack from Cannonier, who was still dangerous despite his precarious state.
As Imavov continued his offensive onslaught, Cannonier turned his back and sought some breathing room. Although Cannonier remained conscious and on his feet, Herzog decided he had noticed enough and ceased the contest. The decision was met with boos from the crowd, but Imavov defended Herzog's call.
“I was ready to continue the fight if the fight was willing to continue,” Imavov said after the win. “The referee, that’s his job, that’s what he does on a daily basis. So I think he did the right decision but I was ready to keep going if that was the decision.”
Before the controversial stoppage, the middleweights had engaged in a back-and-forth battle through the first three rounds. Cannonier came out aggressively in the opening round, mixing head-hunting with clinch work to slow down Imavov. Imavov displayed good speed, catching Cannonier with slick combinations, while Cannonier responded with stiff punches of his own.
Cannonier’s strategy included frequent returns to the clinch, aiming to wear down Imavov over five rounds. However, Imavov found success with a stinging right hand that consistently tagged Cannonier. Cannonier retaliated with heavy shots, forcing Imavov to remain cautious and avoid overextending himself.
The decisive moment came in the fourth round when Imavov stunned Cannonier with a well-timed counter right hand. Imavov later explained that he had identified this tendency in Cannonier’s game and exploited it during the fight.
Despite the controversy, Imavov secured a significant win, becoming the first middleweight to finish Cannonier. Now, Imavov has his sights set on a rematch with former champion Sean Strickland.
“My goal is to get the belt,” Imavov stated. “I’d like to fight Sean Strickland in Paris. So Sean Strickland, if you want to do it, come to Paris and we’re going to fight together.”
Their first encounter took place at light heavyweight, with Strickland earning a unanimous decision victory in January 2023. Imavov is eager for a rematch, but it remains to be seen if Strickland will accept the challenge.
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