UFC Louisville preview: ‘Cannonier vs. Imavov’ predictions

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just one day away from the upcoming UFC Louisville mixed martial arts (MMA) event, which is set to go down tomorrow night (Sat., June 8, 2024) on ESPN and ESPN+ from inside KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, featuring a middleweight main event between Top 10 title contenders Jared Cannonier and Nassourdine Imavov, a five-round headliner with major title implications for late 2024 and beyond.

Before we dive into the main and co-main event, which includes the 205-pound scrap between light heavyweight veterans Dominick “The Devastator” Reyes and Dustin “The Hanyak” Jacoby, check out Andrew Richardson’s “X-Factor” breakdown for the rest of the UFC Louisville main card by clicking here. Get all the latest “Cannonier vs. Imavov” odds and betting props courtesy of DraftKings right here. For UFC Louisville live results and play-by-play click here.

185 lbs.: Jared Cannonier vs. Nassourdine Imavov

Jared “Killa Gorilla” Cannonier

Record: 17-6 | Age: 40 | Betting line: +105
Wins: 10 KO/TKO, 2 SUB, 5 DEC | Losses: 2 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 4 DEC
Height: 5’11“ | Reach: 77” | Stance: Switch
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 4.68 | Striking accuracy: 52%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 4.13 | Striking Defense: 59%
Takedown Average: 0.44 (42% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 63%
Current Ranking: No. 4 | Last fight: Unanimous decision win over Marvin Vettori

Nassourdine Imavov

Record: 13-4, 1 NC | Age: 29 | Betting line: -125
Wins: 5 KO/TKO, 4 SUB, 4 DEC | Losses: 0 KO/TKO, 1 SUB, 3 DEC
Height: 6’3“ | Reach: 75” | Stance: Orthodox
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 4.53 | Striking accuracy: 54%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 3.26 | Striking Defense: 61%
Takedown Average: 0.87 (31% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 76%
Current Ranking: No. 7 | Last fight: Majority decision win over Roman Dolidze

Jared Cannonier is back after a year on the sidelines and he’s got a pretty big chip on his shoulder, ranting and raving about all the top opponents he should be facing … perhaps forgetting the promotion offered him Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi and “Killa Gorilla” had to pull out due to injury — then later bailed on Roman Dolidze at UFC Vegas 85. Coming into this fight, Cannonier stands at No. 4 in the middleweight division, having won two straight and seven of his last nine. His only losses at 185 pounds have come against former champions Robert Whittaker (UFC 254) and Israel Adesanya (UFC 276).

“I was hoping maybe for a rematch with Strickland, maybe a rematch with Whittaker, a title fight, something better than a No. 8-ranked guy,” Cannonier told MMA Junkie. “But these crumbs was all they had left for me. Instead of sitting on the shelf, I’m not inclined to waiting and stuff like that. So I took this fight, and I’m going to go in there and have another great performance, potentially a record-breaking performance, potentially another Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night performance, and keep marching forward toward that title because that’s the whole goal.”

“I’m going to keep whooping these guys until there’s nobody else to whoop, and they have no choice to put that champ in front of me,” Cannonier continued. “I’m ready to go and get my hands on this man. I’m ready to get back in there and get back to work, put the work in and get back to what I started in my last fight: more pressure, more intensity, more output. We’ll see if he can last 241 strikes. I’m going in there and putting it on him. I’m going to do it even better than last time.”

Nassourdine Imavov migrated to UFC back in late 2020 following a 9-2 run on the regional circuit. In eight trips to the Octagon, the 29 year-old Parisian has put together a 5-2 record with one “No Contest,” which came at UFC 289 when his cranium collided with Chris Curtis. He’s beaten some solid competition at 185 pounds, like No. 11-ranked Roman Dolidze, but his record pales in comparison to the murderer’s row Cannonier has faced during his UFC tenure. Outside of Dolidze, Imavov’s biggest win came against … well, I guess it’s a toss up between unranked opponents Joaquin Buckley and Edmen Shahbazyan.

“Regarding the question if I’m going to be able to take punches, I’m going to be able to take punches if I need to, but the real question is: Is he going to be able to hit me?” Imavov told MMA Junkie. “I’m not Marvin Vettori. I’m a completely different style. Marvin is slow, like a punching bag, not moving fast. He’s not even young. His style of fighting is very different to mine. It moves me very close to the belt and the best in the world, so I’m highly motivated by this fight. Of course, I’m planing to stay active. Waiting is not necessarily a good option. Sometimes you wait and nothing happens. I want to stay active and keep fighting. I would like to be on the UFC Paris fight card.”

Trying to predict a Jared Cannonier performance can be a fool’s errand because you never know which version of “Killa Gorilla” you’re gonna get. 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.

Prediction: Cannonier def. Imavov by technical knockout

205 lbs.: Dominick Reyes vs. Dustin Jacoby

Dominick “The Devastator” Reyes

Record: 12-4 | Age: 34 | Betting line: +190
Wins: 7 KO/TKO, 2 SUB, 3 DEC | Losses: 3 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 1 DEC
Height: 6’4“ | Reach: 77” | Stance: Southpaw
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 4.75 | Striking accuracy: 50%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 3.77 | Striking Defense: 48%
Takedown Average: 0.36 (28% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 80%
Current Ranking: No. 15 | Last fight: Knockout loss to Ryan Spann

Dustin “The Hanyak” Jacoby

Record: 19-8-1 | Age: 36 | Betting line: -230
Wins: 12 KO/TKO, 1 SUB, 8 DEC | Losses: 1 KO/TKO, 2 SUB, 5 DEC
Height: 6’3“ | Reach: 76” | Stance: Orthodox
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 5.53 | Striking accuracy: 47%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 4.07 | Striking Defense: 57%
Takedown Average: 0.36 (25% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 60%
Current Ranking: Unranked | Last fight: Unanimous decision loss to Alonzo Menifield

Dominick Reyes makes his return to the Octagon following a year-plus on the sidelines, a much-needed break after getting his brains scrambled in three consecutive fights. Former light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, once mentioned something about the cruelty of the “War Gods” and they have not been kind to “The Devastator.” At one point, people talked about Reyes like he was the uncrowned champion, thanks to a stellar (albeit losing) performance against Jones at UFC 247 back in early 2020.

I expected Reyes to remain atop the 205-pound rankings for several years and eventually score a second title shot, but then Jan Blachowicz obliterated Reyes at UFC 253 later that year. Follow-up fights against Jiri Prochazka and Ryan Spann also ended with Reyes face down on the canvas, which leads me to believe that tomorrow night’s contest is make-or-break for his career. It’s worth noting that Reyes turns 35 at the end of the year and a fifth straight loss may see him released from the promotion.

“The UFC’s light heavyweight division is very performance based,” Reyes told MMA Junkie. “I have the pedigree to get me back to the top. Pretty much anyone in the division has the opportunity to put a couple (of wins) together, but it’s one of the hardest divisions in terms of, one punch and it’s over. I was thinking about this the other day, actually. I was like, ‘Man, I put together six in a row in the UFC’s light heavyweight division. That’s pretty wild.’ I’m right back to it. I’m right back to that style of fighter. That’s what Dustin was asking, and that’s what he’s going to get.”

Like Reyes, the 36 year-old Jacoby is no spring chicken. His first stint under the UFC banner came in late 2011, when he went 0-2 and promptly earned his walking papers. A successful run on the regional circuit, coupled with surprising success in GLORY kickboxing, earned “The Hanyak” a shot at redemption on Dana White’s “Contender Series” in summer 2020, where he outworked Ty Flores to earn a second UFC contract. Since then, Jacoby has put together a 7-3 record with one draw and is looking to bounce back from his unanimous decision loss to Alonzo Menifield at UFC 296 last December.

“I love the matchup,” Jacoby told MMA Junkie. “I’m very well aware Dominick Reyes is a big name. He’s one of the best guys in the division. He’s on a little bit of a skid right now, but this is not an easy job. It’s a tough job to do and he’s fought a murderer’s row of individuals. I know I have my hands full. I know Dom’s going to be dangerous, and I’m really looking forward to the opportunity of taking out a so-called legend and building my legacy.”

“I’m very well-prepared,” Jacoby continued. “It’s my job to go in there and execute. He could come forward, he could stay back. Either way, I think he’s going to go in there looking for the kill. I think his back’s against the wall. I think he knows that, and he’s got to go out there and make something happen. I’m expecting the best Dominick Reyes, the best version there is. I have no doubt he’s going to be on that night and again, I’m just looking forward to the opportunity to go in there and face a guy like him.”

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. I think the more likely scenario is that round one serves as a feeling-out process before they turn up the heat in the second stanza. Jacoby is not exactly a world beater but he’s a durable, competent striker who lands nearly six significant strikes per minute. There was a time in the not-too-distant past when that wouldn’t have been enough to topple an athlete like Reyes, but in 2024, I think “The Hanyak” only needs one clean landing to turn out the lights. Unfortunately, “The Devastator” likely got ruined during his string of knockout losses and let’s face it, once the chin is dead, it typically stays buried.

Prediction: Jacoby def. Reyes by knockout

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the UFC Louisville main card predictions RIGHT HERE.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Louisville fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ preliminary card bouts at 5 p.m. ET, followed by the ESPN/ESPN+ main card start time at 8 p.m. ET.

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