Nassourdine Imavov Says UFC Middleweight Title Fight vs. Sean Strickland Is Next
The feud between Nassourdine Imavov and Sean Strickland is all over the internet.
Nassourdine Imavov says the UFC made things crystal clear, he is getting the next middleweight title shot.
The Russian-born French contender revealed on the Jaiden Cable YouTube channel that company execs guaranteed him a crack at the belt. Even better for fans who love a good grudge match, that means a run-in with his old rival, newly crowned middleweight champion Sean Strickland.
"I don't like him. It's personal between me and him," Nassourdine Imavov admitted. He explained that before Khamzat Chimaev locked horns with Strickland at UFC 328, he offered to take on Dricus du Plessis just to stay active. The UFC shut that down, assuring "The Sniper" that his next walk to the Octagon would be for gold.
If all goes according to plan, the two will headline a major card late in the year, likely targeting October or November.
Nassourdine Imavov vs. Sean Strickland: Grudge Match Reheated
These two middleweights share plenty of history. Strickland took a short-notice fight against Imavov back in January 2023 at light heavyweight, outworking him over five rounds to take a unanimous decision victory.
Imavov hasn't forgotten that loss, and he is now yet another fighter on the list who does not like the way the American talks trash on social media.
"He's not a good person. He talks shit every day, and it's very personal now," Imavov stated. He added a fiery warning for the champion, insisting there will be "no hugs" this time around and that he'd "rather die" than let Strickland dictate the pace again.
Daniel Cormier Weighs in on Rivalry Between Nassourdine Imavov and Sean Strickland
Former two-division champion Daniel Cormier recently pointed out that Imavov practically earned his title shot five times over with his performances and his current winning streak. Since that 2023 loss, Imavov has surged up the middleweight rankings.
According to official UFC stats, he holds a professional record of 17-4 with one no-contest, boasting an impressive 54 percent striking accuracy and landing 4.28 significant strikes per minute.
Path to a Rematch Clearer than Ever Before
Imavov's path to the top includes major victories over top-tier middleweights like Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, Brendan Allen, former champion Israel Adesanya, and most recently, Caio Borralho,while Strickland won the 185-pound strap back from Chimaev at UFC 328 via split decision, pushing his own record to 31-7. Now, a rematch with Imavov seems inevitable.
With bad blood brewing and the middleweight division heating up, the UFC is setting the stage for a dramatic end-of-year showdown. Expect fireworks when these two square off again.
