TLDR
- Sean Strickland confirmed he is negotiating pay terms with the UFC for his next title defense against Nassourdine Imavov
- Imavov has won five straight UFC fights, including victories over Israel Adesanya and Caio Borralho
- Strickland reclaimed the middleweight title with a split decision win over Khamzat Chimaev in May
- The champion called Imavov a “fake Frenchman” and said the fight is almost finalized
- The UFC has not officially confirmed Imavov as the next challenger for the middleweight belt
Sources: sports.yahoo.com | mmafighting.com
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland says his next title defense against Nassourdine Imavov is almost finalized, with only one issue remaining. The champion took to social media to reveal that contract negotiations are the final hurdle before the fight becomes official.
“We’re discussing pay now,” Strickland wrote on Twitter. “Once that detail is squared, its locked in. The issue is no one cares about the fake Frenchman. We’re almost there.”
The UFC has not publicly confirmed Imavov as the next challenger for the middleweight belt. However, Strickland confirmed that discussions are underway for the title defense.
🇺🇸 Sean Strickland (31-7) vs 🇫🇷 Nassourdine Imavov (17-4) : les HIGHLIGHTS de leur premier combat. 👀🔥
C’était CHAUD… et Nassourdine avait accepté le combat en short notice, avec un vrai désavantage de gabarit face à l’Américain.
Cette fois, si la revanche se fait en…
— Final Round (@Final_Rnd) September 28, 2026
Imavov’s Path to Title Shot
Imavov has put together an impressive winning streak to earn his championship opportunity. The fighter currently holds a 17-4 record and has won five straight fights in the UFC.
His most recent victories came in 2025 when he defeated former champion Israel Adesanya and top contender Caio Borralho. These wins cemented his position as the top challenger in the division.
Imavov had a perfect 2024, winning three fights in seven months. He beat Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, and Brendan Allen during that stretch.
Strickland’s Championship Journey
Strickland reclaimed the middleweight title in May with a split decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev. The win surprised many observers who expected Chimaev to dominate the fight.
The champion bounced back from a title loss to Dricus Du Plessis that occurred a year earlier. Between losing the belt and winning it back, Strickland knocked out Anthony Hernandez in March.
Strickland now holds a 31-7 professional record. He has established himself as one of the most outspoken fighters in the UFC.
This would be a rematch between the two fighters, though details of their first meeting are not available from the source material. Strickland referred to Imavov as a “fake Frenchman” in his social media post, continuing his pattern of trash talk leading up to fights.
The champion suggested that fan interest in the matchup could be affecting negotiations. He stated that “no one cares about the fake Frenchman,” though this appears to be part of his promotional efforts rather than an official UFC concern.
Both fighters are currently in the prime of their careers. Imavov’s five-fight winning streak includes victories over several top-ranked middleweights and a former champion.
The UFC typically finalizes fight contracts several weeks before making public announcements. According to Strickland’s comments, the promotion and both fighters are in the final stages of reaching an agreement.
Once the pay details are resolved, the fight is expected to be announced officially by the UFC. No date or location has been mentioned for the potential title defense.
