Nassourdine Imavov scored a fourth-round TKO win over Jared Cannonier in the main event of UFC Louisville on Saturday night, but almost no one felt the fight should have been stopped.
Imavov came into the fight ranked No. 7, and Cannonier was No. 4. Because of the loss, there is a good chance Imavov will replace Cannonier in the Top 5 rankings at middleweight next week. Imavov landed a big right hand that left Cannonier hurt and stumbling in the Octagon.
The 40-year-old veteran began retreating while he tried to regain his equilibrium. During the scramble, Imavov was trying to land bigger shots, and while it appeared he was on the cusp of connecting with a definitive strike, it never actually happened.
Cannonier landed a right-hand seconds before Herzog called for the stoppage, but it seemed the veteran referee already had his mind made up.
Here is a look at the sequence.
After the stoppage, several fighters and members of MMA media took to social media to voice their displeasure.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill had two words to describe his feelings about the end of the main event.
Bookies’ Adam Martin took umbrage with the stoppage because of Cannonier’s age and the likelihood that the loss will probably cost him another chance at a title.
The MMA Hour’s Ariel Helwani posted the stoppage and called it awful. Helwani believes Cannonier was robbed.
MMA Junkie’s Dan Tom offered a defense of Herzog’s decision to stop the fight citing Cannonier turning his back multiple times during Imavov’s rally.
Toms makes a good point about Cannonier turning his back. I called that out during the flurry. However, Herzog can and should communicate with a fighter in this situation, and it didn’t appear he tried a verbal check-in with Cannonier.
Plus, the veteran didn’t look finished. To add insult to injury, Cannonier was up a round on two of the three judges’ scorecards when the fight was stopped.
Based on his age and standing, Cannonier will probably never get another chance to fight for a title. If that’s how it plays out, this loss will be even tougher to accept.
