UFC Fight Night featured a six-fight main card tonight at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville. There were 14 total bouts across both prelims and the main card, headlined by a middleweight fight between contenders Jared "The Killa Gorilla" Cannonier and Nassourdine "The Sniper" Imavov.
After an impressive undercard with multiple highlight-reel level finishes, the headline bout ended in controversy with Imavov winning by TKO in Round 4.
Imavov landed a powerful right hook that sent Cannonier stumbling before he seemed to right himself slightly near the fence. Referee Jason Herzog called it moments later to the dismay of both Cannonier and the crowd in Louisville.
"I was ready to continue the fight," Imavov said via translator after the fight. "The referee, that's his job and that's what he does on a daily basis so I think he [made] the right decision but I was ready to keep going if that was the decision."
Here are some highlights from UFC Fight Night from Louisville:
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UFC Fight Night highlights
The first undercard bout of the main event began with a unanimous decision win for Punahele Soriano in his welterweight debut after the full three rounds.
Things changed quickly with the next fight as middleweight Zachary Reese landed a knockout win in less than 30 seconds.
Arguably the most impressive knockout of the night came in the next round as Brunno Ferreira landed a spinning elbow to knock out Dustin Stoltzfus in the closing minute of Round 1.
Rising youngster Raul Rosas Jr. earned the only submission win of the night in the next bout with a rear naked choke on Ricky Turcios.
The co-main event lasted just two minutes as Dominick Reyes earned his first knockout win in nearly four years over Dustin Jacoby.
The headline fight ended up as one of the longest bouts of the night with a controversial finish.
Imavov earns a win following powerful right hook
Imavov started the round strong with multiple jabs to open the round. Cannonier went for a spinning back elbow but Imavov managed to grab a hold of his waist and reach the fence. The two fighters moved around the middle before Imavov landed a massive right hook on Cannonier that led Cannonier to use the fence to keep himself up. After stumbling slightly more, referee Jason Herzog called the fight with Imavov as the victor.
Cannonier quickly argued against it as the crowd booed the result.
Cannonier vs. Imavov Round 3
Cannonier landed a heavy hit to open the round. Imavov got Cannonier to the ground for the first time with a grip around his waist. He broke free but the two entered another stalemate on the fence of the Octagon. Imavov found his rhythm with a few jabs before Cannonier responded with a heavy hit to his head. Cannonier landed more leg kicks but neither fighter managed to land bigger hits in the final minute of the round.
Cannonier vs. Imavov Round 2
Cannonier hit Imavov with a heavy combination at the end of the first minute of the round and bowled Imavov over. Imavov got to his feet quickly and protected himself from another flurry from Cannonier. The two entered another stalemate on the fence of the Octagon before Cannonier landed multiple jabs to Imavov's head.
Cannonier pushed Imavov to the edge of the Octagon for another stalemate until the final 90 seconds of the round. The two traded blows with Cannonier landing more hits. Imavov hit a few heavy punches to Cannonier in the final minute, including a jab that knocked Cannonier's mouthpiece out. His final punches in the last 10 seconds ended the round on a good note.
Cannonier vs. Imavov Round 1
Cannonier was the first to attempt a kick and punch in the first 15 seconds. Cannonier racked up multiple heavy calf kicks early. After the first minute, he got Imavov on the ground in the fence. Without a hold, Imavov got up and referee Jason Herzog used an official timeout and told him to keep his fingers away from Cannonier's eyes.
After the fighters traded blows for a minute, they went to a stalemate in a corner of the Octagon. Imavov hooked Cannonier's arm and Cannonier had a grip near Imavov's waist and kept him from landing any kicks.
UFC Fight Night main event: Cannonier vs. Imavov begins
The headline fighters are ready to go in the Octagon for this middleweight bout. The crowd in Louisville booed Imavov when he was introduced and cheered for Cannonier.
UFC Fight Night main event: Jared Cannonier vs. Nassourdine Imavov walk out
The headline bout is set to kick off shortly from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville. Imavov entered the building first followed by Cannonier.
Reyes earns knockout win in Round 1
The two light heavyweights eased into the fight over the first 30 seconds. Reyes landed the first kick and tested another against Jacoby, using his left foot both times. Jacoby responded in similar fashion while switching stances. Jacoby opened things up with a few strikes to Reyes face before Reyes responded with a flurry of big hits and knocked him down with a right knee. The knockout win for Reyes was called after two minutes.
This marks Reyes' first win since Oct. 18, 2019, a knockout victory over Chris Weidman.
UFC Fight Night co-main event: Dominick Reyes vs. Dustin Jacoby begins
This light heavyweight bout features two fighters looking to buck recent losing streaks. Jacoby's lost three of his last four bouts and Reyes has dropped his last four fights (three by knockout).
Rosas Jr. gets the submission win
The second round started much like the first with strikes by both fighters. Rosas Jr. got Turcios to the ground quickly and rolled over to get a strong grip on Turcios' waist. Rosas Jr. went with a tight grip on a rear choke and Turcios submitted at 2:37.
Rosas Jr. vs. Turcios Round 1
Turcios came out of the gates with plenty of kicks before Rosas Jr. got him to the ground after 30 seconds. The pace sped up after a minute on the ground before Turcios took the upper hand and got Rosas Jr. on the ground. They rolled over as Turcios got Rosas Jr. in a chokehold. Rosas Jr. broke out of it and got Turcios on the ground in the final minute of the round.
UFC Fight Night main event undercard: Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Ricky Turcios begins
The final bout before the co-main event features a bantamweight matchup between Rosas Jr. and Turcios. This is Rosas Jr.'s ninth career UFC fight; his last bout was a first-round knockout win over Terrence Mitchell on Sept. 16, 2023. Turcios is coming off a long break following his win by split decision over Kevin Natividad on Nov. 19, 2022.
Ferreira breaks free for KO win over Stoltzfus in Round 1
Stoltzfus landed the first big hit of the bout and the first takedown of the round at around 3:45. He stopped Ferreira's multiple attempts to get up. Ferreira got off the ground a minute later only for Stoltzfus to get a grip on his leg. Ferreira broke free and moved to the edge of the Octagon as Stoltzfus landed multiple kicks to neutralize any attacks from the Brazilian.
But Ferreira closed the round with a flurry of big hits, nearly knocking Stoltzfus down with 35 seconds left. In the closing moments of the round, Ferreira landed the deciding spinning back elbow that knocked Stoltzfus down to make it 12 wins in his first 13 bouts.
UFC Fight Night main event undercard: Brunno Ferreira vs. Dustin Stoltzfus begins
The middleweight bout features a rising contender in Ferreira, winner in 11 of his first 12 UFC bouts. His last seven bouts were all knockouts with six wins. Stoltzfus won his last fight by submission against Punahele Soriano on Dec. 2, 2023 but lost four out of five fights prior to that.
Reese with the immediate knockout
The second undercard bout of the main event was far shorter than the first. Reese went on the attack quickly and landed a body kick-uppercut combination that knocked him on the ground after 21 seconds of Round 1.
UFC Fight Night main event undercard: Marquez vs. Reese begins
The second undercard event of the night features a middleweight match between Julian Marquez and Zachary Reese. Marquez is on a two-fight losing streak with knockout losses in UFC 285 in March 2023 and UFC Fight Night in June 2022. Reese lost his first career UFC fight last time in the Octagon with a knockout loss to Cody Brundage on Dec. 2, 2023.
Punahele Soriano wins first bout of the main card
Soriano's win came by unanimous decision 30-25, 30-25, 30-27 for his first victory since July 16, 2022.
Baeza vs. Soriano Round 3
Like it was in Round 2, Soriano got Baeza to the ground early and landed many heavy shots. He broke the UFC record for significant ground strikes mid-way through the round with 135 by the 3:30 mark. Soriano outhit Baeza 201-19 by the 1:48 mark as he began showing signs of fatigue. Soriano kept Baeza on the ground and peppered him with jabs through the final 80 seconds to decidedly win the round. This looks to be an easy unanimous decision in Soriano's favor.
Baeza vs. Soriano Round 2
Soriano went on offense early with getting Baeza to the ground. He peppered him with multiple hits while Baeza attempted multiple arm bars. The majority of the round was spent in a corner of the Octagon as Soriano went for a grappling attack. Baeza was on the ground for more than four minutes before attempting to get up with 40 seconds left. Soriano had the upper hand throughout.
UFC Fight Night main event undercard: Baeza vs. Soriano begins
The first fight of the main event features a welterweight bout between these two fighters. Baeza's on a three-fight losing streak and Soriano's dropped four of his last five fights.
UFC Fight Night Prelims: Thiago Moises vs. Ludovit Klein result
Klein earned a win by unanimous decision (27-30, 27-30, 27-30) for his sixth win in his last seven bouts.
UFC Fight Night Prelims: Charles Radtke vs. Carlos Prates result
Prates earned a first-round knockout for his ninth UFC win in a row.
UFC Fight Night Prelims: Brad Katona vs. Jesse Butler result
Katona earned the victory by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27) for his first win of the year.
UFC Fight Night Prelims: Andrea Lee vs. Montana De La Rosa result
De La Rosa ended a three-match losing streak with a split decision victory (28-29, 29-28, 28-29).
UFC Fight Night Prelims: John Castaneda vs. Daniel Marcos result
Marcos remained undefeated in his UFC career with a unanimous decision victory (27-30, 27-30, 27-30).
UFC Fight Night Prelims: Eduarda Moura vs. Denise Gomes result
Gomes notched her first win of 2024 via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 27-30).
UFC Fight Night Prelims: Cody Stamann vs. Taylor Lapilus result
Lapilus earned his first win of the year by unanimous decision (27-30, 27-30, 27-30).
UFC Fight Night Prelims: Rayanne dos Santos vs. Puja Tomar result
Tomar won the first fight of the night via split decision (27-30, 30-27, 28-29).
UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs Imavov - TV, Streaming and how to watch
Prelims
- Time: 5 p.m. ET
- Cable: n/a
- Streaming: ESPN+
Main Card
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Cable: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN+
What time does Cannonier vs Imavov start?
The main card begins at 8 p.m. ET. With five bouts before Cannonier vs. Imavov, their fight is likely to start at approximately 9:40 p.m. ET.
Tale of the tape: Cannonier vs Imavov
Cannonier and Imavov have never faced off before. They do have one common opponent on their respective UFC records: Sean Strickland. Cannonier won a split decision over Strickland in the main bout of UFC Fight Night on Dec. 17, 2022. Imavov lost to Strickland by unanimous decision in the main fight of UFC Fight Night on Jan. 14, 2023.
This is Cannonier's first bout in nearly a year. His last fight was a unanimous decision win against Marvin Vettori on June 17, 2023. He started his career as a heavyweight fighter before slimming down to the middleweight level. Despite dropping down to a lighter class, he still retains heavyweight-level power in his punches. He turned 40 in March but hasn't lost his athleticism in the Octagon. His opponents likely tire out before he does during a fight.
Tonight marks Imavov's second bout of 2024. He won his first fight of the year by majority decision over Roman Dolidze on UFC Fight Night on Feb. 3. He's built a reputation and his nickname - "The Sniper" - behind accurate and effective jabs, counters, and combos. His kicks are also a strong part of his game and could come in handy against an athletic fighter like Cannonier, who won't be easy to get on the ground.
UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs Imavov Predictions
MMAmania: Cannonier def. Imavov by technical knockout
Jesse Holland writes: "Sometimes Cannonier seems content to have a 15-minute staring contest, like he did against Whittaker. Other times, he looks like he’s a punch away from committing murder, like his UFC Vegas 75 snuff film starring Marvin Vettori. Imavov is a capable striker with good footwork and if “Killa Gorilla” takes his foot off the gas, he’s likely to get boxed up and shut down. Judging by his attitude at the UFC Louisville media day, I think we get the angry Cannonier who is looking to make someone pay for his “crumbs.” That’s bad news for the 29 year-old Frenchman."
Rotowire: Cannonier wins by decision
Cole Shelton writes: "Cannonier should be able to push the pace against Imavov and be the more active striker to win a decision."
CBS Sports: Cannonier by unanimous decision
Shakiel Mahjouri writes: "Do not expect fireworks here. Cannonier has wicked power that hasn't served him reliably against the middleweight elite. Imavov has fantastic striking defense thanks to his movement and angles... Cannonier can keep the pace going for 25 minutes. His superior power, ability to win five-round fights and experience against elite opposition give me confidence in the underdog."
UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs Imavov odds
The latest UFC odds from BetMGM give the slight edge to Imavov over Cannonier.
- Nassourdine Imavov to win:-120
- To win by KO/TKO/DQ:+350
- To win by submission:+650
- To win by decision:+225
- Jared Cannonier to win:+100
- To win by KO/TKO/DQ:+400
- To win by submission:+1800
- To win by decision:+225
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What is Jared Cannonier's record, history
Cannonier made his professional debut on June 18, 2011 with a knockout win over Alton Prince. His UFC debut was on Jan. 3, 2015 in UFC 182 with a loss to Shawn Jordan.
He is 17-6-0 (10 KOs) as a fighter on his full record. His record in the UFC is 10-6 (6 KOs).
What is Nassourdine Imavov's record, history
Imavov made his fighting debut on Feb. 3, 2016 with a loss to Ayadi Majdeddine. His UFC debut came at fight night on Oct. 3, 2020 with a unanimous decision against Jordan Williams.
He is 13-4-0 (5 KOs) overall with one no contest on his full record. In the UFC, Imavov is 5-2 along with that no contest result in his bout at UFC 289 against Chris Curtis.
UFC Fight Night main card odds
Here are the rest of the odds from BetMGM for tonight's Fight Night bouts on the main card.
Dominick Reyes vs. Dustin Jacoby (Light Heavyweight)
- Moneyline: Jacoby (-250), Reyes (+200)
Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Ricky Turcios (Bantamweight)
- Moneyline: Rosas Jr. (-225), Turcios (+185)
Brunno Ferreira vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (Middleweight)
- Moneyline: Ferreira (-275), Stoltzfus (+220)
Julian Marquez vs. Zachary Reese (Middleweight)
- Moneyline: Marquez (-145), Reese (+120)
Miguel Baeza vs. Punahele Soriano (Welterweight)
- Moneyline: Baeza (-200), Soriano (+165)
UFC Fight Night main card predictions
Reyes vs. Jacoby predictions
MMAmania: Jacoby def. Reyes by knockout
Holland: "Both combatants are tall, rangy fighters who prefer to stand and bang. Combined, they’ve only completed six takedowns in their UFC careers (four for Jacoby, two for Reyes) so don’t expect much grappling in this contest, unless Reyes flips the script in an attempt to preserve his chin... Unfortunately, [Reyes] likely got ruined during his string of knockout losses and let’s face it, once the chin is dead, it typically stays buried."
Rotowire: Bout is under 2.5 rounds
Shelton: "Both men have KO power, and Jacoby has been dropped in two of his last three fights, so I'll take violence in this one and expect someone to get knocked out in the first round.."
Rosas Jr. vs. Turcios predictions
MMA Knockout: Rosas Jr. to win
Drew Beaupre writes: "Originally scheduled to take place at UFC Mexico City, this fight is a chance for Rosas to further distance himself from his first career loss as well as the illness that forced him to withdraw mid-card in February. Turcios is more than capable of playing spoiler here, but I’ll side with Rosas to control the fight with his grappling and pick up another UFC victory."
ClutchPoints: Rosas Jr. wins in under 2.5 rounds
Garrett Kerman writes: "While Turcios is a tricky fighter to fight against, Rosas Jr. has what it takes to get the job done. Ultimately, Rosas Jr. will get the timing down of Turcios on the feet to where he will be able to secure takedowns and that is where Rosas Jr. should find the finish and extend his winning streak to two."
Ferreira vs. Stoltzfus predictions
MMA Knockout: Ferreira to win
Beaupre: "Stoltzfus could be fighting for his spot on the roster here after going 2-4 since joining the UFC offDana White’s Contenders Series. Only one of those four losses have come via knockout, but Ferreira is going to be swinging hard from the opening bell and has the kind of power that only requires him to land one good shot and end the fight."
ClutchPoints: Ferreira wins in over 1.5 rounds
Dominik Zawartko writes: "Let's roll with the total over as Stoltzfus manages to extend this fight into the third round. From there, it's completely unknown how Ferreira will perform, but don't be surprised if we see several swings in the momentum here."
Marquez vs. Reese predictions
Betsided: Reese to win
Jaren Kawada writes: "While the book is still out on Reese and his career potential, Marquez is essentially a finished product. This is great matchmaking by the UFC to set Reese up for a big bounce-back win and analyze what they truly have in the middleweight division."
ClutchPoints: Marquez wins in over 1.5 rounds
Zawartko: "We'll have to side with the experience of Julian Marquez and being in this spot before. Zachary Reese's last knockout has to still be fresh in his head and he may be a little shy letting his hands go in this one. If Julian Marquez finds a slight opening, expect him to let loose and try to end this fight."
Baeza vs. Soriano predictions
MMA Knockout: Baeza to win
Beaupre: "Soriano is another fighter that may be competing for his job in Louisville, while Baeza is currently on a three-fight skid and hasn’t fought since April 2022. The extended time off has hopefully allowed him to recover from back-to-back knockouts, and if that is the case he should get back into the win column here."
ClutchPoints: Soriano wins in under 2.5 rounds
Kerman: "Ultimately, Baeza will look to land the calf kicks to keep Soriano from just barreling forward but Soriano will land heavy strikes off those calf kicks and that is when he will put him away, getting back on track in his new weight class."
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