News Jared Cannonier vs. Nassourdine Imavov headlines UFC Fight Night: Louisville on June 8

[CatchtheseHands]

Cannonier is getting screwed so the UFC can try to milk the Adesanya/DDP hate. That sucks for Jared. At least he's getting a fight so he can get paid and not just wait around, however. He isn't getting any younger.

And then Costa gets the number one guy while sitting at seven in the rankings and hasn't gotten a ranked win since 2019.... It's actually nuts.
Yeah outside of Whittaker/Khamzat I'm not too big on some of the recent matchmaking choices for middleweight.

Have we actually ever seen some bullshit of this level before? Costa has been doing nothing but losing yet he constantly gets to fight up as a reward. Even Vettori vs Strickland makes more sense than this shit right now.

 

[StonedLemur]

Fick yeah bro!! For those who don't know @BoxerMaurits is the truth! Dude has the inside scoop! And is hella friendly to boot

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@BoxerMaurits is my little brother, I taught him everything he knows.... including leg to ass ratio.....tell em little brother lol

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Imavov is by far the better striker but he is kind of fragile and does not like to get punched.

Unless Cannonier age suddenly comes into play I think walks Imavov down takes whatever punches are thrown his way and lands harder shots to get a W.

Great matchmaking. I like this one a lot.

 

[Siver!]

Fick yeah bro!! For those who don't know @BoxerMaurits is the truth! Dude has the inside scoop! And is hella friendly to boot

View attachment 1041319View attachment 1041317

He's the truth, and you're the truth too, brother!

 

[Duke Kensington]

Damn. Jared beat the piss out of Marvin. Really thought he should be up next for a TS if Izzy isn’t fighting for it

 

[BoxerMaurits]

@BoxerMaurits is my little brother, I taught him everything he knows.... including leg to ass ratio.....tell em little brother lol

Lmao, uncle Lemur told me everything I need to know about those crazy blonde creatures, lol

 

[StonedLemur]

Lmao, uncle Lemur told me everything I need to know about those crazy blonde creatures, lol

Brothers helpin brothers sir, it's what turns the world

 

[BoxerMaurits]

Brothers helpin brothers sir, it's what turns the world

Hell yeah bro

 

[StonedLemur]

Hell yeah bro

 

[blaseblase]

Damn, Jared's gotta fight down in the ranks while on a win streak in the top five is shitty.
I think he might get beat here too tbh.

He's literally the only one in the top 5 on a win streak and both of them were to top 5 opponents. He should be fighting DDP for the title if not for UFC favoritism.

 

[CieloLuce]

I can see an upset here if Nassourdine can pressure and keep distance.

 

[fortheo]

Imavov’s footwork should provide issues like Whittakers did but regardless of how agile his footwork is he still potshots and going potshot for potshot against Cannonier is not going to work for any MW. Alongside dealing with Cannonier’s chopping leg kicks I have to lean with Cannonier going off of their last fights.

BUT

Imavov showed against Dolidze he is extremely close to elite imo and if he can string together combinations more fluidly I think he can win a decision sticking and moving but if he throws one at a time like he did against Dolidze and Curtis I struggle seeing him give Cannonier enough issues to not take over down the stretch.


I’m leaning with Cannonier based on both men’s last performances but I do think if Imavov makes the right adjustments to his game he can win this…. I’m just not confident he doesn’t stick to potshots.

I like Imavov here, until he gasses. He's a much different fighter when he's tired.

 

[The_Renaissance]

Unusual fight, didn't expect it but it's not terrible either. Cannonier by decision.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Any preferred opponent you wish they would have Cannonier face? He needs at least 1 if not 2 wins before getting another title shot & the UFC understandably would like to avoid giving him one lol. I would've preferred they did Cannonier/Chimaev instead of Whittaker/Chimaev.

He has the best claim to a title shot already, he doesn't need two wins. Who has a better claim?

The only reason why he is not given a title shot is because the UFC doesn't seem him as a marketable fighter.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

Damn, Jared's gotta fight down in the ranks while on a win streak in the top five is shitty.
I think he might get beat here too tbh.

Yeah, Cannonier really is getting screwed over for not being popular. I think he is the only top 5 MW that has a winning streak.

 

[Kourtland]

And then Costa gets the number one guy while sitting at seven in the rankings and hasn't gotten a ranked win since 2019.... It's actually nuts.
Yeah outside of Whittaker/Khamzat I'm not too big on some of the recent matchmaking choices for middleweight.

I think they should have did Khamzat vs Cannoier instead of Whittaker.

 

[Pechan]

Excited to watch volume puncher Cannon man again, dude whipped Vettori's ass.

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

https://x.com/MMAJunkie/status/1788679570301861921

Interesting matchup. Cannonier is no pushover for anyone in the division, this could be the step up for Imavov to enter title contention.
With a win, I could see them setting up Imavov v Strickland 2 if Imavov wants to try to avenge that loss, but I think Sean is still just too much for him now. Came in on short notice last time right off the couch (Sean couldnt even make 185, the fight was at LHW) and he cruised over him.

Cannonier is riding a high, going 4-1 over his last 5 with his only loss being the boring melatonin commercial with Izzy, but wins over Strickland, Brunson, Gastellum, and Vettori are carrying Jared on a strong winstreak. While it may feel like Cannonier is fighting downward (and he is), it seems that the only way he'll earn another shot at the title is by going through Imavov +1 so become undeniable, especially if Izzy loses in his bid against DDP, reopening the MW title picture.

 

[FrappeDuRocma]

War Nassour !

 

[Siver!]

This is the one that's been mooted for a while, right?

Yeah, fine, Jared should win and then he really has a claim for a title shot. He's already got an argument, this should cement it.