Nassourdine Imavov clinched a significant win at the UFC Louisville headline fight, although the match was not without controversy. In a moment when Imavov seemed close to knocking out Jared Cannonier, referee Jason Herzog stepped in and halted the action in the fourth round at 1:34. The decision was met with disapproval from the audience, but Imavov respected Herzog’s judgement and was ready to continue if needed.
Throughout the first three rounds, the middleweight fighters engaged in an intense exchange of blows. Cannonier showcased a mix of striking and clinching techniques to assert his dominance over Imavov. However, it was Imavov’s precise right hand that caused Cannonier to stagger and led to the fight being stopped.
Imavov expressed his ambition to go after the middleweight title and issued a challenge to Sean Strickland for a rematch in Paris. In their previous encounter in the light heavyweight division, Strickland won by decision, but Imavov is determined for another chance to demonstrate his skills against the former champion.
