Paris, France – Nearly a year away from the octagon UFC middleweight Nassourdine Imavov returns at UFC Paris against Joaquin Buckley on Saturday.
Imavov said that he didn’t really have a choice of opponent due to injury or
“I didn’t really have a choice because I wanted to fight in September and most of the fighters were either injured or a lot of them turned down the fight. We’re always looking for somebody above my spot in the rankings. Since that was not possible we took the fight because Buckley seemed to be the most interesting matchup for me,” Imavov told Cageside Press among other media through a translator on Thursday.
Imavov actually ran into Buckley at the poster signing in during fight week, but described the interaction as “friendly”.
“I was a bit surprised because what he’s (Buckley) been saying in the media, but we shook hands and he was really nice. I thought he was going to be a bit aggressive, but no. It was cool,” Imavov said.
Regardless of pre-fight talk or friendly interactions Imavov knows that both men will bring their best into the cage on Saturday.
“We’re both finishers. He has KO’s and so do I. So when you have a fight like that with two guys like that for sure the fight won’t go the distance,” he said.
Imavov is 3-1 in his UFC stint so far which left many to wonder why the promotion would put him in the prelims and not on the main card of the very first UFC event in his hometown of Paris.
“Yes I was a bit disappointed but it doesn’t matter. I’m going to put on a show no matter what, prelims or not,” Imavov said.
Fighting at home can be an advantage or a big distraction depending on the fighter. For Imavov it’s no problem and it’s actually something he’s looking forward to.
“Actually it’s going to be really nice. I don’t see any kind of disadvantage towards that. This is my first time fighting in Paris so you’ll have all the support and the love from my fans. I can’t wait to fight,” he said.
At the end of the day he still has to get into the octagon with Buckley, but in his mind he knows what the result will be.
“It’s going to be a war. One of us is going to go to sleep and I can tell you who it’s going to be.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Nassourdine Imavov above. UFC Paris takes place at Accor Arena on Saturday Sept. 3rd.
