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- What: UFC Louisville Main Event
- Who: Jared Cannonier vs. Nassourdine Imavov
- Date: Saturday, June 8, 2024
- Location: KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky
- Time: Prelims (5:00 p.m. ET), Pay-Per-View Card (8:00 p.m. ET)
- How to Watch: ESPN+/ESPN
With UFC 302 behind us, the UFC looks forward to this weekend’s UFC Fight Night event, UFC Louisville, also known as UFC on ESPN 57. In the main event of the upcoming fight card, former UFC middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier faces Nassourdine Imavov. Cannonier is the No. 4 fighter in the official UFC middleweight rankings, while Imavov checks in at No. 8. Here is some background on the fighters before we look at the betting breakdown of the UFC Louisville fight card, which takes place at the KFC Yum! Center on Saturday, June 8.
Jared Cannonier (17-6) dropped a decision to then-UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in July 2022. Since that setback, Cannonier has picked up back-to-back wins, topping Sean Strickland by split decision and Marvin Vettori via unanimous decision. Cannonier has not fought since his win over Vettori in June 2023.
Nassourdine Imavov (13-4-0-1) is on a 4-0-1 run at 185 pounds under the UFC banner. He is coming off a February 2024 majority decision win over Roman Dolidze. His only loss in the past three years was a light heavyweight setback to Sean Strickland in January 2023.
Before we look at the best bets for the Cannonier vs. Imavov matchup on the UFC on ESPN 57 fight card, check out the best UFC betting sites and where you can find the best odds on all the UFC fights.
UFC Louisville Main Event: Jared Cannonier vs. Nassourdine Imavov betting picks
| Fighters |  |  |  |  |
| Nassourdine Imavov | -137 | -130 | -135 | -134 |
| Jared Cannonier | +117 | +110 | +105 | +105 |
Jared Cannonier betting breakdown
Jared Cannonier is a pressure fighter who relies on his stand-up striking. Despite his heavily muscled frame, Cannonier is quick on the draw and incredibly adept at landing fast counters. Cannonier also lands effective calf kicks with power that hurt and slow his opponents from coming forward, which tends to help him when coupled with his fast hands. He has a good defense and can take a punch. Cannonier also switches stances with ease, giving his opponent different looks.
One thing to remember about Cannonier, who joined the UFC as a 7-0 fighter in 2015, is that he is 40 years old, which is 12 years older than his opponent, Nassourdine Imavov. At some point, age and time will catch up with him, but judging by his win over Vettori, that time is still in the future. Despite his age, Cannonier landed 241 of a whopping 411 attempted significant strikes in that five-round scrap. Cannonier’s cardio, pressure, power, and output should not be a worry in Louisville.
Cannonier lands 4.68 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy of 52 percent. His striking defense is 59 percent, but he does get hit a fair amount, absorbing 4.13 significant strikes per minute. Cannonier is not known for his wrestling, but he did land four takedowns on six attempts against Vettori, so that might be something he’s added to his arsenal later in his career.
Nassourdine Imavov betting breakdown
Nassourdine Imavov is a technical striker with fast hands, a good jab, an effective straight right, and strong kicks. He mixes up his targets and techniques well, and his stance and style allow him to mask his takedown attempts effectively. He is also deceptively strong on the ground, with the ability to control his opponent and work toward submissions. His fast hands allow him to pierce the guard of an unsuspecting foe. Imavov has the hallmarks of a fighter who can follow and execute a game plan. He is not someone to be goaded into a striking war, and his experience of going five rounds with a fighter like Strickland, who sets a fast pace and continuously moves forward, should serve him well against Cannonier, a fighter who likes to pressure, but has a lot more power than Strickland.
While Imavov is best at distance thanks to his kickboxing approach, he is also effective in the clinch thanks to his ability to control things on the fence and sneak in fast and powerful elbows when his adversary is not expecting those strikes.
Imavov lands 4.53 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy rate of 54 percent. His striking defense is sound at 61 percent, and he absorbs 3.26 significant strikes per minute. Like his foe, he’s not known for his takedowns.
Best Bets: UFC Louisville Main Event – Jared Cannonier vs. Nassourdine Imavov
If the Jared Cannonier who fought Marvin Vettori shows up in Louisville, this is his fight to win. His pressure and power will be able to carry the day over Nassourdine Imavov. That’s a big if, though, because Imavov is a skilled fighter who can counter well. All things considered, the betting pick is for Jared Cannonier to beat Nassourdine Imavov via decision.
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