Nassourdine Imavov doesn’t suppose there ought to be any controversy together with his win over Jared Cannonier.
On Saturday, Imavov headlined UFC Louisville towards Cannonier, scoring a fourth-round TKO victory, after hurting “The Killa Gorilla” with a proper hand and follow-up photographs. Nevertheless, it was a controversial ending as Cannonier by no means was dropped and was within the act of punching again when referee Jason Herzog intervened. However Imavov says there shouldn’t be any subject with the stoppage.
“Completely not,” Imavov stated by a translator in his post-fight press convention. “It’s the job of the referee to resolve if a fighter is ready to hold going or not. He took already lots of harm. He would have taken much more in the event that they struggle continued. So I believe it was the appropriate resolution to cease it.”
Up till the end, Imavov and Cannonier have been locked in a aggressive, back-and-forth battle. Cannonier began robust early, however the momentum started to shift within the second spherical as Imavov bought extra comfy with the vary and timing. Finally, that arrange the punch that led to the stoppage, and based on Imavov, that was the plan all alongside.
“It was not the sport plan to begin too quick,” Imavov stated. “I do lots of 5 spherical [fights] now. It’s not the identical tempo. In my view, I solely misplaced the primary spherical. The opposite spherical I began to dominate, originally of the second spherical…
“It’s good. It was precisely what I used to be searching for. I used to be searching for a end. I’d be mendacity if I’d say that an early stoppage wouldn’t [have been] higher, however the factor is, it takes a while to complete somebody. What I’m proud of is lots of people critiqued my cardio, and on this struggle I proved that my cardio is superb, ending him within the fourth spherical.”
Controversy or not, the win is the most important of Imavov’s profession to this point. The 29-year-old French fighter will doubtless transfer into the top-five of the UFC’s middleweight division this week, placing him within the thick of title competition. And with the UFC heading again to Paris on Sept. 28, Imavov hopes his subsequent struggle can be on residence soil, towards an opponent who he already has historical past with.
“Sean Strickland,” Imavov stated when requested what he desires subsequent. “He’s in entrance of me. We already fought at [light heavyweight]. I wish to take my revenge at [185 pounds]… Paris. UFC Paris. September.”
Imavov and Strickland beforehand fought in a lightweight heavyweight contest at UFC Vegas 67, when Strickland stepped in to exchange Kelvin Gastelum on just some days’ discover. Strickland received the struggle by unanimous resolution, establishing his eventual middleweight title run. Imavov clearly hopes a win over Strickland would additionally propel him to a title shot in related trend, however whether or not that occurs subsequent or another person will get the chance, “The Sniper” is assured he turns into champion earlier than his profession is over.
“What I do know is I’m 28, I simply did a dominating efficiency towards one of many high [guys] within the division, and I’m not even at my greatest,” Imavov stated. “I may even progress extra. I’m already adequate to get the title, to get the belt. However the farther it’s going to be, the higher I’m going to be.”
