The French middleweight earned probably the most important victory of his
profession up to now within the UFC
on ESPN 57 most important occasion, as he defeated Cannonier through
fourth-round technical knockout on Saturday on the KFC Yum! Middle
in Louisville, Kentucky. Imavov put his opponent on skates with a
clear proper hand, however Cannonier gave the impression to be regaining his
bearings when referee Jason Herzog stepped in to wave off the battle
on the 1:34 mark of Spherical 4.
Whereas Herzog was closely criticized within the aftermath, Imavov
believes the veteran official made the proper name.
“It’s the job of the referee to determine if the fighter is ready to
maintain going or not,” Imavov stated on the post-fight press convention.
“He took a number of harm, and he would’ve taken much more if the
battle would’ve continued, so I believe it was the proper resolution to
cease it.”
It was a gradual burn for Imavov main as much as the ending sequence.
Cannonier began properly within the opening stanza, however the
MMA Manufacturing unit consultant appeared to get stronger because the
battle progressed. That was all a part of the plan for Imavov, who was
competing in his third most important occasion on Saturday.
“It was not the sport plan to begin too quick. I do a number of 5
spherical [fights] now,” he stated. It’s not the identical tempo. In my
opinion, I solely misplaced the primary spherical.”
Whereas Imavov would have preferred to place Cannonier away sooner, it might
take a while to complete opposition on the highest degree of the
sport.
“It was precisely what I used to be searching for. I used to be searching for a
end,” Imavov stated. “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 pleased with is a number of
folks critiqued my cardio, and on this battle I proved that my
cardio is superb, ending him within the fourth spherical.”
After his newest triumph, Imavov known as out Sean
Strickland, a request he reiterated through the post-fight press
convention. Imavov misplaced a unanimous resolution to Strickland in a
short-notice mild heavyweight contest at UFC Combat Night time 217 in
January 2023. No matter what the longer term holds, Imavov, who’s
29, believes one of the best remains to be but to return.
“What I do know is I’m 28, I simply did a dominating efficiency towards
one of many prime [fighters] within the division, and I’m not even at my
finest. I may even progress extra,” he stated. “I’m already ok
to get the title, to get the belt. However the farther it’s going to
be, the higher I’m going to be.”
