Nassourdine Imavov made a statement in the UFC middleweight division with a fourth-round finish of Jared Cannonier at UFC Louisville, but controversy surrounded the stoppage. The fight ended in the fourth round with Imavov securing a TKO victory over Cannonier, who seemed to be recovering before the referee stepped in, much to the disappointment of both Cannonier and the fans in Louisville.
The momentum shifted towards Imavov after a strong opening round for Cannonier, leading to the eventual finish in the fourth round. Following his win, Imavov called for a rematch with Sean Strickland for the UFC’s return to Paris in September.
The stoppage sparked mixed reactions from UFC pros on Twitter. Some criticized the decision, calling it a “horrible stoppage” and questioning the referee’s call, while others defended it, noting that Cannonier appeared hurt and did not recover well in the time given.
Despite the controversy, Imavov’s performance was praised, with one fighter acknowledging the Frenchman’s skill and solid performance against a tough opponent. The win potentially propels Imavov into the top-five of the middleweight division, setting the stage for exciting matchups in the future.