French contender Nassourdine Imavov produced the biggest performance of his career to knock out former champion Israel Adesanya and move one step closer to a shot at the undisputed UFC middleweight title.
Imavov, whose fighting nickname is “The Sniper,” stood and traded with former kickboxing champion and two-time UFC middleweight champ Adesanya through the first round of their main event clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, then finished him in stunning fashion early in the second.
More news: UFC Saudi Arabia: Michael ‘Venom’ Page Outclasses Shara Magomedov in Riyadh
Mike Stobe/Getty Images
Page had just received an accidental poke to the eye by Imavov, but told referee Marc Goddard that he was OK to continue. And, just a matter of seconds later, Imavov made the breakthrough.
Imavov caught an Adesanya kick, then pressed forward looking to apply pressure to the former champion. Then a huge overhand right landed flush and dropped Adesanya to the canvas.
Imavov then swarmed Adesana on the mat and landed a salvo of strikes to the grounded fighter to force Goddard to step in and wave off the fight just 30 seconds into the round.
It gave Imavov the 15th win of his MMA career, and took his current win streak to four. Adesanya, meanwhile, fell to his third successive defeat, following prior losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis.
“I feel so good,” he told UFC analyst Paul Felder after his victory.
“I said it all week long, that I was in perfect shape. I proved it tonight. I proved I was the better striker. Now the real bonus for me is going to be to fight for the belt.
“I promised you something tonight. I promised you a special surprise. That was the surprise.”
More news: Michael Chandler Opens Up on Mental Turmoil After UFC 309 Loss to Charles Oliveira
Imavov then staked his claim for a shot at the UFC middleweight title currently held by Du Plessis. The South African is set to put his title on the line in a rematch against former champion Strickland at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia, and Imavov wants to be next in line for a title shot.
“I think there is no doubt I am worth the belt,” he told Paul Felder, via a translator, after his victory.
“Four victories in one year. Two top five, two top 10, two finishes. The record speaks for itself.”
More MMA:
Dana White Admits UFC Could Move On From Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall
UFC Champion Alex Pereira ‘Really Wants’ Boxing Bout With Oleksandr Usyk
For more MMA, head to Newsweek Sports.
