UFC: Alternate Shawn Strickland slows down Nasiruddin Imamov’s push

The American Sean Strickland Beat the French Nasruddin Imafov By unanimous decision, this Saturday in Las Vegas, at the UFC Fight Night event in a fight contested in the light heavyweight division.

Called up to replace Kelvin Gastelum, who suffered a mouth injury earlier this week, Strickland (26-5) dominated the overwhelming majority of the fight to end a two-game losing streak. Two judges handed the score 49-46 in favor of Strickland while the third saw him win 48-47.

Used to fighting middleweight, Imavov (12-4) tipped the scales at just 194 pounds, 10 pounds lighter than his opponent. Strickland used this advantage to pressure Imavov, often pushing him into the cage.

Imamov sees his winning streak stop at three. Earns his second defeat in six fights in the UFC.

Strickland scored points by shaking Imafov in the first round and knocking down his opponent in the second. But the French quickly got up and the rest of the round was played standing.

The pace of the fight slowed somewhat in the third round and Strickland came back on the offensive and put pressure on Imavov in the fourth.

He was pressured by his coaches to aim for K. -O. In the fifth round, Imauf emptied his tank, but Strickland was undeterred in running away to victory.

So Strickland tasted victory again after consecutive losses to Alex Pereira and Jared Cannonier. He made his return to the Octagon less than a month after losing by split decision in a narrow duel against Canonier.