Cannonier Vs. Imavov Betting Odds, Prediction

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight strikers Jared Cannonier vs. Nassourdine Imavov will clash TONIGHT (Sat., June 8, 2024) at UFC Louisville inside KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Missouri.

Cannonier is the forgotten man in the 185-pound title picture … perhaps intentionally. Regardless of divisional politics, the top-ranked knockout artist is riding high into this main event slot. In his last two bouts, he defeated former champion Sean Strickland and utterly battered Marvin Vettori for five-full rounds, proving he’s still among the best at 40 years of age.

Imavov — 12 years his opponent’s junior — is one of the youngest men in the Middleweight Top 10. His ability to push a hard pace for 25 minutes is still in question, but the French talent has more than proven his skills in just about every facet of the game. If he can score the best win of his career here, he’s instantly a title threat.

Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and strategic keys for each athlete:

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Cannonier vs. Imavov Betting Odds

• Jared Cannonier victory: +102
• Jared Cannonier via TKO/KO/DQ: +400
• Jared Cannonier via submission: +2000
• Jared Cannonier via decision: +225
• Nassourdine Imavov victory: -122
• Nassourdine Imavov via TKO/KO/DQ: +350
• Nassourdine Imavov via submission: +750
• Nassourdine Imavov via decision: +225
• Draw: +5000
• Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

How Cannonier Wins

Cannonier is a remarkable athlete. He started his UFC career as a Heavyweight knockout artist and keeps that power all the way down at 185 pounds. Since that cut really forced him to get in shape, Cannonier’s strength and conditioning has been remarkable for the division. He’s also a really tricky striker who’s nearly impossible to keep on the floor.

There are a couple keys to victory here for “The Killa Gorilla.” First and foremost, consistent pressure feels like a great idea. Imavov has a proven track record of slowing down over the course of fights, whereas Cannonier has repeatedly beaten the crap out of opponents who dare to fatigue in front of him.

It’s odd to talk about the 40 year old pushing the pace, but he should!

Otherwise, the best weapon in Imavov’s arsenal is his jab. I’d like to see Cannonier counter that weapon with stance shifts (to smother the jab while in Southpaw) and Orthodox calf kicks, which are a great way to take away the jab. If Imavov can’t jab comfortably, he’ll be forced to trade with Cannonier in the pocket — nobody wants to do that.

How Imavov Wins

Imavov has all the tools to make an impact in the Middleweight title mix. He’s a sharp boxer, notable for that great jab but also capable of setting up sharp combos and counters. He’s got a tricky kicking game to boot, and Imavov’s offensive wrestling is an underrated aspect of his game.

Wrestling here would be a bad idea though. Unless he secures an early finish — Cannonier hasn’t been finished on the floor ever — forcing takedowns against an athlete like Cannonier is a recipe for fatigue. Instead, Imavov has to employ his usual “Sniper” game plan, scoring points at range and landing hard counters.

It just has to be done perfectly.

I actually think Imavov’s kicks will be equally important as his jab. The Israel Adesanya vs. Cannonier fight should serve as a guideline, and that bout saw a mobile “Stylebender” avoiding the pocket. He stayed back and kicked often — Imavov’s sneaky angled front kick up the middle should be great — but Adesanya often used the clinch and elbows to stymie Cannonier’s creative combinations.

Add some extra jabs in the mix, and that sounds like a good approach for the French Middleweight.

Cannonier Vs. Imavov Prediction

Until Cannonier shows signs of slowing down, he’s one of the very best Middleweights on the planet, fully capable of becoming champion.

Imavov is a very good fighter. He has better skills than most at 185-pounds. Is he a real title threat, however? I’m not so convinced. His best win is Roman Dolidze, one of the most deeply flawed ranked fighters on the entire roster. That’s a far cry from Cannonier, who’s battle-tested and proven against the best.

Not to go all MMA Math, but compare their performances against Sean Strickland. Cannonier went toe-to-toe with Strickland for five rounds, hurt him at least once, and scored a close decision win. Imavov barely won a round, looking tired and frustrated for most of the fight.

Cannonier is the better, more powerful striker, and Imavov doesn’t have the gas tank to wrestle him. The younger man may find some early success with his speed, but Cannonier is going to rattle his jaw at some point and render him defensive.

Prediction: Cannonier via decision (+225)

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