An excellent UFC Fight Night is approaching soon, with a middleweight headliner showcasing fourth-ranked Jared Cannonier and seventh-ranked Nassourdine Imavov. The battles take place on Saturday, June 8, with the Man Card kicking off at 8:00 PM ET. Currently, Imavov is the favorite with a moneyline at -123.
Cannonier (17-6-0) is currently on a two-fight win streak dating back to 2022. This will be his first battle of 2024, as his last fight was a unanimous decision over Marvin Vettori in June of last year.
His fighting profile shows 17 victories that consist of 10 knockouts, two submissions, and five decisions. In seven of these wins, he has ended the battle in the opening round. This makes him a dangerous opponent to battle with to start.
"Tha Killa Gorilla" has a striking accuracy at 52 percent and a takedown accuracy at 43 percent. As for striking, he is landing 4.68 significant strikes each minute while he takes on 4.13. This does not leave much room for error.
Cannonier defends solidly against takedowns and significant strikes, with their percentages at 63 and 60 respectively. He also averages 0.44 takedowns per 15 minutes. At this rate, he should set the aggressive pace and fighting on the ground much.
Imavov (13-4-0) is returning to action after a majority decision victory over Roman Dolidze back in February. This victory put him back on the winning side after a No Contest in the fight prior with an accidental clash of heads in June of last year.
His fighting profile showcases 13 wins that include a balanced resume of five knockouts, four submissions, and four decisions. He has also put up seven first round finishes.
His striking accuracy comes in at 54 percent and he has landed 32 percent of his takedowns. He is also landing 4.53 significant strikes a minute while taking on 3.26. This is a solid ratio and is more appealing on paper than Cannonier so far.
Imavov defends against significant strikes at 62 percent and a 77 percent defense against takedowns. He also throws in 0.87 takedowns and 1.49 submissions every 15 minutes of fight time. This shows he can defend decently against ground attacks and can dish out a few of his own.
MyBookie has the betting odds for this showdown, with Nassourdine Imavov as a slight contender for success. Both stack up well on paper here, but this fight could go in different directions.
This matchup will favor the fighter that is steady and will likely earn the most points. The edge slightly goes to Cannonier since he has excellent victories over Strickland and Vettori prior to this fight. Look for the decision by Cannonier.
