Jared Cannonier pushes for Nassourdine Imavov rematch at UFC Paris post controversial ending to first fight: "He'll have the home-field advantage"
Jared Cannonier wants a sequel clash against Nassourdine Imavov in the Fall following the controversial ending in their initial contest.
Imavov is Russian-born but fights out of France and Cannonier is willing to run it with 'Russian Sniper' in the latter country. UFC returns to Paris on September 28 marking the company's third overall foray into that market and is far off enough where this potential fight booking isn't entirely impossible.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Cannonier voiced his desire for a redemptive opportunity against Imavov and is willing to be the away player to tie things up at one win apiece between them.
When asked if the organization's brass agreed that the fourth-round stoppage in their headliner was a bad stoppage, Jared Cannonier said:
"I think they're all in agreement that it was a very bad stoppage. Like a horrible stoppage, you know. I think the whole world is in agreement that that was the worst thing that could have happened that night, that fight ending the way it ended. So yes, they're all in agreement."
He added:
"As far as any conversation, I don't know. I want to petition for a rematch, you know. The UFC is going to Paris in September. I would love to go to Nassourdine's backyard and make that right. He'll have the home field advantage."
Check out Jared Cannonier calling for the Nassourdine Imavov rematch below:
Jared Cannonier and his prior UFC defeats
Jared Cannonier ranks fourth in the middleweight rankings, while Imavov is No.7, with the hierarchy presumably shifting with the next rankings update.
Cannonier has competed across three weight divisions in the UFC during his tenure with the company though. While the 40-year-old has won across all those weight categories, he has sustained defeats across those divisions as well.
'Killa Gorilla' fell short in his UFC debut to Shawn Jordan at UFC 182 but bested Cyril Asker during his heavyweight run in the UFC. He then transitioned to 205 pounds and collected wins over Ion Cutelaba as well as Nick Roehrick bookending a loss to eventual UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira.
The Texas native then transitioned to 185 pounds after back-to-back defeats over future 205-pound king Jan Blachowicz and Dominick Reyes.
Cannonier had only lost at middleweight to previous divisional kingpins Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya before the setback against Imavov.