TLDR
- Nassourdine Imavov claims UFC told him his next fight will be for the middleweight title against Sean Strickland
- Imavov is on a five-fight winning streak with knockout wins over Jared Cannonier and Israel Adesanya
- The French fighter lost to Strickland in 2023 on short notice at light heavyweight
- Imavov calls the rivalry ‘very personal’ and says Strickland called him a terrorist during fight week
- Strickland recently reclaimed the title by defeating Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328
Sources: ca.sports.yahoo.com | mmamania.com
Nassourdine Imavov says his next fight will be for the UFC middleweight championship against Sean Strickland. The French fighter claims the UFC has told him he can only compete for the title.
Imavov has not fought since defeating Caio Borralho at UFC Fight Night 258 in September. His inactivity appears to be intentional as he waits for his title opportunity.
“Of course, my next fight is (for) the belt,” Imavov said in an interview with Jaiden Cable. “Before the fight with Strickland and Khamzat, I wanted to fight Dricus (Du Plessis) to stay active, and the UFC told me I could fight only for the belt.”
The middleweight contender was passed over when the UFC booked Khamzat Chimaev to fight Strickland at UFC 328. Strickland won that fight by decision to reclaim the UFC middleweight title.
Imavov on Five-Fight Winning Streak
Imavov currently holds a 17-4 record with a 9-2 mark inside the UFC. He has won five consecutive fights since his last loss.
🚨 BREAKING: Imavov says the UFC told him his next fight is against Sean Strickland. "I don't like him. It's personal between me and him."
🗣 "Before Khamzat fought Strickland, I told the UFC I wanted to fight DDP to stay active, but they said, 'Your next fight will be for the… pic.twitter.com/XB5d7AN1Y2
— FightLuck (@FightluckBet) July 21, 2026
That loss came against Strickland in 2023 at UFC Vegas 67. The fight took place on short notice and was contested at light heavyweight instead of middleweight.
Since then, Imavov has earned victories over several top contenders. His winning streak includes knockout finishes over Jared Cannonier and former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
Strickland now holds a 31-7 overall record and is 18-7 in the UFC. He has expressed support for giving Imavov a title shot.
Other contenders are also calling for their chance at the belt. Chimaev believes he deserves an immediate rematch after his loss at UFC 328.
Dricus Du Plessis recently defeated Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma and has two previous wins over Strickland. He has also stated his case for a title opportunity.
Personal Rivalry Fuels Title Fight
Imavov made it clear that his feelings toward Strickland go beyond normal competition. The challenger says the upcoming fight is deeply personal.
“I do not like him,” Imavov said of Strickland. “He’s not a good person. He talks shit every day.”
The French fighter pointed to several incidents that have fueled their rivalry. He says Strickland has insulted him multiple times since their first fight.
“Even during his fight week with Khamzat, he called me a terrorist,” Imavov said. “It’s such bullshit that it’s hard not to want to rip his head off.”
Imavov is usually known for his calm demeanor outside the cage. However, he says Strickland is the only UFC fighter who has made things this personal.
“It’s very personal,” Imavov explained. “I think he’s the only fighter in the UFC where it’s so personal.”
The 31-year-old contender says he is “100 percent” certain the title fight will happen. He claims the UFC has instructed him to wait for the championship opportunity rather than take another fight.
Strickland’s willingness to face Imavov could help move the matchup forward. The champion has publicly stated he favors giving the French fighter his title shot.
The main question facing UFC matchmakers is choosing between Imavov, Chimaev, and Du Plessis for the next title fight. All three fighters have made their cases for a championship opportunity.
Imavov has not competed in 10 months as he waits for his title shot. His last appearance was a decision victory over Borralho in Paris.
