MMA
UFC Louisville: Nassourdine Imavov stops Jared Cannonier but it's not without controversy
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With a quick overhand right counter, Nassourdine Imavov stunned Jared Cannonier, sending the veteran on the run.
Another big right hand followed, brushing Cannonier back with the Octagon fence holding him up.
Imavov kept the pressure coming with some punches and just then, referee Jason Herzog questionably stepped in and ended the bout, crediting Imavov with the fourth-round TKO in their UFC Fight Night main event from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday night.
There's no doubt that the two right hands hurt Cannonier but the 40-year-old was still on his feet and defending himself, making the stoppage appear premature.
Still, it's Imavov who entered the Octagon as the seventh-ranked middleweight, to Cannonier's No. 4, who improves to 14-4 and will likely receive a bump up in the rankings as an emerging contender.
The victory triggered the French fighter into calling out former middleweight world champion Sean Strickland for a bout in September when the UFC visits Paris.
"I'd like to fight Sean Strickland in Paris," Imavov said on ESPN+, "so Sean Strickland if you want to do it, come to Paris and we're going to fight together."
Last weekend, Strickland was victorious over Paulo Costa and subsequently asserted that he's willing to wait for a rematch against middleweight world champion Dricus Du Plessis.
Prior to the controversial stoppage Saturday night, Cannonier set the tone for the fight with the seemingly heavier hands, before Imavov found his range with his own punches.
Here's how the entire UFC Louisville main card went.
