Nassourdine Imavov doesn’t suppose there must be any controversy along with his win over Jared Cannonier.
On Saturday, Imavov headlined UFC Louisville in opposition to Cannonier, scoring a fourth-round TKO victory, after hurting “The Killa Gorilla” with a proper hand and follow-up pictures. Nonetheless, 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 challenge with the stoppage.
“Completely not,” Imavov mentioned by means of a translator in his post-fight press convention. “It’s the job of the referee to determine if a fighter is ready to preserve going or not. He took already a whole lot of injury. He would have taken much more in the event that they combat continued. So I feel it was the fitting determination 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 acquired extra snug with the vary and timing. In the end, that arrange the punch that led to the stoppage, and in accordance with Imavov, that was the plan all alongside.
“It was not the sport plan to start out too quick,” Imavov mentioned. “I do a whole lot 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, at the start of the second spherical…
“It’s good. It was precisely what I used to be on the lookout for. I used to be on the lookout 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 combat I proved that my cardio is excellent, 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 seemingly transfer into the top-five of the UFC’s middleweight division this week, placing him within the thick of title rivalry. And with the UFC heading again to Paris on Sept. 28, Imavov hopes his subsequent combat can be on residence soil, in opposition to an opponent who he already has historical past with.
“Sean Strickland,” Imavov mentioned when requested what he needs subsequent. “He’s in entrance of me. We already fought at [light heavyweight]. I want to take my revenge at [185 pounds]… Paris. UFC Paris. September.”
Imavov and Strickland beforehand fought in a light-weight heavyweight contest at UFC Vegas 67, when Strickland stepped in to switch Kelvin Gastelum on just some days’ discover. Strickland received the combat by unanimous determination, establishing his eventual middleweight title run. Imavov clearly hopes a win over Strickland would additionally propel him to a title shot in comparable vogue, 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 in opposition to one of many prime [guys] within the division, and I’m not even at my greatest,” Imavov mentioned. “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.”
