Heading into a main event against Roman Dolidze in February 2024, Imavov was in desperate need of momentum. He changed camps, going from the MMA Factory to Venum Training Camp under the leadership of Nicolas Ott. As far as the fight, which was his second main event opportunity, it provided that spark, although not without some controversy.
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Imavov got the upper hand in the first, rocking Dolidze with a right hand and knee to the body but was unable to score the first-round finish. As the two battled over the course of the next two rounds, Imavov was focusing his attack on the body, but in the fourth round, Imavov connected with a kick to Dolidze’s head while the Georgian had his hand on the ground. Imavov was docked a point, and tensions flared between Imavov and Dolidze’s corner, which included Curtis. Cooler heads prevailed, and Imavov was able to get his hand raised for the first time in 15 months.
Imavov got his biggest opportunity yet in his next fight. Headlining his first fight night outside of the UFC APEX, Imavov scored a bout against former title challenger Jared Cannonier. “Tha Killa Gorilla” arguably had an inside track at a title shot, and he was hoping to cement that case with another main event win in Louisville. However, Imavov had his own plans.
