Zelim Imadaev

Michel Pereira vs. Zelim Imadaev

Round 1
In what could be a wild welterweight clash for as long as it lasts, the high-flying Pereira (23-11, 2 NC; 1-2 UFC) squares off with Russian knockout artist Imadaev (8-2, 0-2 UFC). Pereira breakdances when Joe Martinez calls his name. Hanging on tight will be referee Chris Tognoni, and these two wild men have no interest in touching gloves and would rather get down to it. Pereira kicks to the body and leads forward with a few jabs, coming out oddly measured compared to past performances. Imadaev reaches with a left hand, and Pereira ducks it and goes after one of his own. Pereira stings him with a lunging overhand right, and backs off. Imadaev jumps forward with a left hand, and he backs off when Pereira leaps in the air with a knee. There is a tense staring match between these two strikers, and most are throwing single strikes like one jabbing kick to the body from the Brazilian. Pereira paws out with a jab and a low kick, and reaches with a left straight to the body. Imadaev reaches out with his fingers outstretched, and as Imadaev comes at him, Pereira knees him in the face. Imadaev sticks his tongue out at him as he wobbles backwards, and Pereira winds up with a right hand that staggers him. Pereira races across the cage and leaps off the fence with a Showtime kick as he slaps off Imadaev’s guard. Pereira puts his hands behind his back to signal that Imadaev should come at him, but the Russian does not oblige. Pereira lands with a few punches on the chin, and Imadaev cannot respond. Pereira winds up with a huge right hand rings off Imadaev’s head, sending the Russian falling down. Imadaev gets back up just in time to take a spinning back kick to the midsection, and a left to the body is followed by a right to the head that again staggers Pereira. “Demolidor” lands a leg kick and he takes ones back, and jumps off the fence to land a Showtime punch. Imadaev has no answer for it as Pereira dances around, and fakes to connect with a final right hand as the round ends. The two men come together at the horn, and they are jawing at each other as Tognoni separates them.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pereira

Round 2
The two are quick to engage again, as Pereira walks him down and lands a hard right. Imadaev counters with a stiff right of his own, and he backs off the Brazilian. “Demolidor” is ready to come back at him, and lands inside and outside kicks to the leg before slapping Imadaev in the face with his foot. Pereira goads him on like Neo beckoning Agent Smith in “The Matrix,” and Imadaev does not fall for it and waits for Pereira to stop taunting him to strike. He kicks Pereira in the body, but the Brazilian jumps back at him to attack. Pereira plants the ball of his foot to Imadaev’s torso, and stays out of range while sticking him with a left hand. Pereira avoids a power strike, lands a right hand, and dives in with a rolling thunder kick. Imadaev brushes it off and rushes in to attack, but Pereira regains his composure and protects himself. Pereira continues to taunt his man as he evades counters, and starts slapping Imadaev in the face. Slaps, not punches. Imadaev is irritated and crashes in to initiate a clinch, so Pereira greets him with a knee in the breadbasket to force a separation. Imadaev almost catches him with an uppercut, but the Brazilian is narrowly able to get out of harm’s way. Pereira rips the body with a left hand, and Imadaev responds with a piston-like jab. Pereira leaps in the air and glances a knee off Imadaev’s gloves, lands, and waves Imadaev on. Imadaev does not come towards him, so Pereira blasts him in the face with a right hand and staggers the Russian. Pereira does not fall into a trap and stays patient to kick him in the legs a few times. Landing a left hand, Pereira tries to get him a few more but decides to target the body to end the round. The two throw at each other right to the bell, as Tognoni once more separates the two.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pereira

Round 3
Imadaev lets loose with a leg kick that spins him around, and Pereira backs away and jabs three times to make Imadaev retreat. Pereira lands to the leg and gets off a front kick that snaps Imadaev’s head back. Imadaev tries to make him pay with a right hand, and “Demolidor” ducks it and slings back at him. Pereira springs off the cage with a Superman punch and hurts Imadaev, and kicks him to the body and lands a swarm of strikes as Imadaev is holding on. Pereira jogs around and kicks him in the leg while avoiding lunging punches. Pereira opens his hands again and slaps Imadaev in the head, and those slaps are likely more impactful than much of what Imadaev has landed in the fight. Imadaev is stalking him down but unable to cut him off, and walks into strikes. Imadaev glances a right hand off the shoulder, and Pereira tries to return fire but is not quite accurate either. Pereira double jabs and follows it with a right hook that falls short, but a body kick does not. Pereira kicks the body with both legs, and attacks the leg as well while Imadaev stands in front of him like an angry heavy bag. Pereira plays around and dances, and at the end of his jig, he cracks Imadaev with a right hand. Imadaev wobbles but keeps his balance, and Pereira comes at him with a few more strikes but does not go after a finish. Pereira winds up with a right hand that clanks off the Russian’s head, and Imadaev kicks him in the face while retreating – Pereira eats it like a sandwich and tells Imadaev to keep hitting him. A significant strike in the form of a slap connects flush on the cheek, and Imadaev is bewildered and chases after him. Imadaev tries to go for a spinning kick, and Pereira lifts him high in the air in a suplex and slams him down.
“Demolidor” immediately secures a rear-naked choke as soon as Imadaev hits the ground without even getting the hooks in, and as the blood pours out of Imadaev's face, Tognoni stops the fight believing he saw a tapout.
Imadaev promptly protests the stoppage, claiming he was trying to fight the hands. On replays, it looked questionable and may have been more of a mercy stoppage than a physical surrender.

The Official Result
Michel Pereira def. Zelim Imadaev R3 4:39 via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)

Max Griffin vs. Zelim Imadaev

Round 1
Up next is a welterweight bout between Max Griffin and Zelim Imadaev. The referee is George Allen. Griffin immediately tags Imadaev with a straight right. He clinches him up and takes him to the ground with a body lock takedown. Imadaev manages to scramble back up but grabs the fence to prevent another one. The referee calls time and takes a point away. Griffin clinches up and once again lands a body lock takedown. Griffin takes the back of Imadaev and is looking for a rear-naked choke. Griffin isn’t able to get his hooks in but is working on a neck crank. Imadaev is defending well but Griffin isn’t letting go of the neck crank. Imadaev grabs the fence to get out of it but the ref doesn’t see the fence grab this time. Imadaev gets back to his feet. He lands a spinning back elbow that rocks Griffin, and then a spinning wheel kick. Imadaev just misses landing another spinning back elbow. Griffin clinches up against the fence but Imadaev reverses him. He starts to land some hard knees to the thighs of Griffin, who is landing some hard knees of his own in the clinch. They break and Imadaev lands a hard low kick just before the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-8 Griffin
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Griffin
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-8 Griffin

Round 2
Round two begins. Griffin lands a straight right. Imadaev looks for a spinning back kick but Griffin changes levels and takes him to the ground with a double leg. Imadaev gets back to his feet but Griffin continues to press him against the cage. Imadaev reverses position. They break. Griffin lands another double leg takedown but Imadaev rolls and gets back to his feet. Griffin with a straight right. Imadaev lands a low kick. Left hook by Imadaev. He flails on a right hook and Griffin lands another double leg takedown. Imadaev immediately gets back to his feet. But once again Griffin is able to get Imadaev to the ground, and once again Imadaev stands back up. Griffin has done a good job getting these takedowns but isn’t doing anything with them. Imadaev lands a straight right and Griffin looks wobbly. Imadaev pushes Griffin against the fence and lands a hard knee to the body, and then a hard elbow. Griffin is absolutely exhausted and Imadaev lands another knee to the fact. Imadaev lands an uppercut to the chin and then a hard let hook. Another knee by Imadaev and the round is over.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Imadaev
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Imadaev
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Griffin

Round 3
Round three begins. Imadaev walks forward and lands a left hook. He lands a straight right on Griffin’s chin and has him backed up against the fence. Imadaev starts teeing off but Griffin clinches him to avoid more punishment. Griffin is able to get another double leg takedown but Imadaev gets back to his feet. Griffin pushes Imadaev to the fence and then lands a couple hard knees to his body. Griffin sticks to Imadaev like glue but Imadaev reverses the position. Griffin lands another knee to the body from the clinch. The 10-second clapper rings. Imadaev with a hard uppercut and Griffin with a spinning back fist just before the fight concludes. Close fight, and the judges will decide it.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Griffin (29-27 Griffin)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Imadaev (28-28 Draw)
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Imadaev (29-27 Griffin)

The Official Result
Max Griffin def. Zelim Imadaev via Majority Decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28)