Jared Cannonier is pointing fingers at referee Jason Herzog for his defeat in UFC Louisville. During the middleweight main event on Saturday, Cannonier lost to Nassourdine Imavov in a contentious fourth-round TKO after Herzog halted the fight while Cannonier was defending himself against Imavov’s attacks. Cannonier believes he was not at an immediate risk of being stopped and was disappointed by Herzog’s decision.
Cannonier expressed his frustration at feeling robbed of the opportunity to achieve greatness in that moment. He believed the victory was snatched from him and that he had the chance to overcome and deliver a strong performance.
Coming off wins against Marvin Vettori and Sean Strickland, the loss was a significant setback for Cannonier. He had been on track for a title challenge but is now pushed down in the rankings.
Cannonier is convinced that he was leading the fight before the controversial stoppage and is keen on a rematch with Imavov to rectify the situation. He proposed a rematch in Paris, giving Imavov the home advantage.
Despite Herzog’s reputation as a top referee, Cannonier believes he erred in ending the fight prematurely. He insists on an immediate rematch with Imavov, with a preference for a different referee, to make amends. Cannonier sees the closing moments of the fight as a battle between himself, Imavov, and Herzog, with the referee determining the outcome, not Imavov. Cannonier is resolute in seeking a rematch to set things right.
