Jared Cannonier vs. Nassourdine Imavov decide, time: UFC on ESPN 57

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in depth to interrupt down the largest fights within the UFC. At this time, he takes a more in-depth have a look at the UFC on ESPN 57 important occasion between former middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier and Nassourdine Imavov.

Jared Cannonier UFC on ESPN 57 preview

Staple data:

• Top: 5’11” Age: 40 Weight: 185 lbs. Attain: 77.5″
• Final battle: Resolution win over Marvin Vettori (June 17, 2024)
• Camp: MMA Lab (Arizona)
• Stance/hanging type: Swap-stance/kickboxing
• Danger administration: Good

Supplemental data:
+ Regional MMA titles
+ 10 KO victories
+ 2 submission wins
+ 7 first-round finishes
+ KO energy
+ Improved skill to counter
^ Harmful hooks and uppercuts
+ Laborious leg kicks
^ From each stances
+ Robust contained in the clinch
+ Serviceable wrestling skill
^ Defensively and offensively
+ Reveals improved getups/scrambles
+ Works effectively from topside
^ Heavy ground-and-pound

Nassourdine Imavov UFC on ESPN 57 preview

Staple data:

• Top: 6’3″ Age: 28 Weight: 185 lbs. Attain: 75″
• Final battle: Resolution win over Roman Dolidze (February 3, 2024)
• Camp: Venum Coaching Heart (France)
• Stance/hanging type: Orthodox/muay Thai
• Danger administration: Truthful

Supplemental data:
+ Regional MMA title
+ 5 knockout victories
+ 4 submission wins
+ 7 first-round finishes
+ Stable really feel for vary and motion
+ Works effectively off of lead hand
^ Laborious hooks and uppercuts
+ Robust contained in the clinch
^ Frames effectively for knees and elbows
+ Strikes effectively off the breaks
+ Serviceable wrestling skill
^ Defensively and offensively
+ Misleading front-choke acumen
+ Grapples effectively from topside

Jared Cannonier vs. Nassourdine Imavov focal point: Middleweight mashup

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 17: (L-R) Jared Cannonier punches Sean Strickland in a middleweight battle in the course of the UFC Battle Night time occasion at UFC APEX on December 17, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

The primary occasion for UFC on ESPN 57 options one other middleweight matchup between two males who’re extremely offensively-minded.

Steadily growing a hard-hitting sport since stepping onto the UFC scene, Cannonier has made marked enhancements below the care of John Crouch and the remainder of the teaching workers at The MMA Lab. Now, transferring way more easily, Cannonier can shift his stance pre or post-combination, punctuating his presence with higher impact than earlier than.

Sometimes using strain to create openings for offense, Cannonier retains onerous pictures on a hair set off, prepared to come back ahead or counter on the drop of a dime. The 13-year professional has additionally seemingly picked up his stablemate’s knack for throwing the calf kick (or low leg kicks), displaying the flexibility to assault his opponent’s decrease extremities from each stances.

Nevertheless, Cannonier remains to be not past being kicked or countered himself, so I’ll be curious to see how he approaches somebody like Imavov.

Though he seems to own a pure aptitude for countering, Imavov additionally has a penchant for piecing collectively offense off of his lead hand.

From energetic feints to sneaky hooks off of his jab, Imavov appears to have a stable sense of vary that helps gasoline his assaults. And when Imavov can corral his opposition towards the cage, the Russia-born fighter is just not afraid to unleash every part from hooking combos to flying knees.

Nonetheless, Imavov’s low-handed guard and generally lackadaisical strategy to his offense have price him each when coming ahead (within the type of counters) and when going backward in prolonged exchanges (as Imavov’s head may also go upright when retreating in straight traces).

Jared Cannonier vs. Nassourdine Imavov breakdown: Potential grappling threats

Jun 10, 2023; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Nassourdine Imavov applies a maintain towards Chris Curtis throughout UFC 289 at Rogers Area. Obligatory Credit score: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports activities

Contemplating the potential for chaos on the toes, nobody ought to be shocked if this get together hits the ground on Saturday.

Regardless that the fighter from France doesn’t have a variety of takedown makes an attempt on the stat sheet, Imavov’s offensive nature usually finds himself flowing or crashing into clinch area in his fights.

Imavov will generally parlay this momentum into opportunistic level-changing takedown makes an attempt that both rating or enable him to safe his foes alongside the fence.

Imavov has seemingly absorbed a variety of the muay Thai swagger seen in a variety of Fernand Lopez fighters, so I wouldn’t be shocked to see the 28-year-old make the most of his stable framing sport in near land some vicious elbows and knees of his personal. That mentioned, Imavov now has a brand new group behind him, and I’m unsure how a lot he’ll need to go strength-for-strength with a man like Cannonier in closed quarters.

Spending a good chunk of his UFC profession keeping off grapplers, Cannonier has confirmed to be absolute dynamite in small areas.

From his improved skill to defensively scramble to the slugging pictures that he sneaks in mid-transition, the 40-year-old has come a good distance from the sunshine heavyweight who was susceptible to enjoying guard when taken down. And when Cannonier is the one who finally ends up on topside, the “Killa Gorilla” is fast to unleash hell from above within the type of unforgiving ground-and-pound.

Imavov is a stable transitional grappler from topside (significantly when working towards the fence), however he’ll must exhibit improved urgency ought to he find yourself beneath Cannonier.

Jared Cannonier vs. Nassourdine Imavov odds

The oddsmakers and the general public are barely siding with the youthful fighter, itemizing Imavov as a slight favourite at -128 and Cannonier a slight underdog at +100, by way of FanDuel.

Jared Cannonier vs. Nassourdine Imavov prediction, decide

Regardless that a part of me anticipated Imavov to be a bigger betting favourite, it’s nonetheless onerous to be assured in him over 5 rounds on account of his propensity to flag in fights. That mentioned, it’s additionally tough to be too bullish on Cannonier contemplating that the 40-year-old competitor is coming off a good layoff and knee harm.

If Imavov can pull some unhealthy defensive reactions out of Cannonier early by way of feints or double jabs, then no person ought to be shocked if the native of France can end the American early with a well-placed cross.

Except for struggling towards southpaws, fighters who can each counter and supply straight pictures down the pike have historically offered issues for Cannonier, no matter stance.

Nonetheless, I’ve a tough time selecting towards Cannonier on this spot.

Not solely is Cannonier the extra confirmed fighter, however the MMA Lab product has proven that he can come again from adversity and battle onerous for 5 frames with out flagging. For that cause, I’ll swing the opposite manner and facet with Cannonier to edge out the scorecards with the extra impactful blows down the stretch.

Jared Cannonier vs. Nassourdine Imavov begin time, the place to look at

As the principle occasion, Cannonier and Imavov are anticipated to make their walks to the octagon at roughly 10:30 p.m. ET. The battle broadcasts dwell on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC on ESPN 57.