NEW YORK – Nassourdine Imavov beat Edmen Shahbazyan with a second-round TKO Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 268 in New York.
Take a look inside the fight with Imavov, who has back-to-back stoppage wins after a decision loss to Phil Hawes earlier this year.
Imavov on the fight’s key moment
Nov 6, 2021; New York, NY, USA; Edmen Shahbazyan (red gloves) competes against Massourdine Imavov (blue gloves) during UFC 268 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
“I wasn’t surprised (he survived my submission attempts). I was expecting him to be tough. I knew at that level, you can try to submit someone and not succeed, so I didn’t give 100 percent. I knew eventually I’d finish him at some point. At some point, I knew it was very close (to a stoppage from the elbows). (The referee) yelled something in English, and I don’t know what it meant, but I knew he was about to stop the fight. So I just continued to give my blows.”
WHAT. A. BATTLE. ⚔️
🇫🇷 Nassourdine Imavov showing up and showing out tonight!
[ #UFC268 | Prelims are LIVE on ESPNews & ESPN+ ] pic.twitter.com/73HArSrg9J
— UFC (@ufc) November 7, 2021
Imavov on fighting in front of fans at MSG
Nov 6, 2021; New York, NY, USA; Massourdine Imavov (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Edmen Shahbazyan (red gloves) during UFC 268 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
“Every fight is very important to me, but this one is special because of the audience. Having the venue full like that, I was so pumped. The audience was yelling, so I went crazy. I love people watching the fight – no matter who they are rooting for.”
We’ve got an escape artist on our hands 🎨👀
[ #UFC268 | Prelims are LIVE on ESPNews & ESPN+ ] pic.twitter.com/RVwfvB2qIv
— UFC (@ufc) November 7, 2021
Imavov on what he wants next
“I don’t know. I think any news will be good news. I hope they’re going to give me someone above me. I just beat a top (opponent). I think I should get someone in the top 10, maybe the top five, but I’m ready for everyone.”
To hear more from Imavov, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.