TLDR
- Sean Strickland won the UFC middleweight title with an upset victory over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328
- Former champion Michael Bisping suggests Joe Pyfer as a potential first title defense opponent
- Nassourdine Imavov is considered the most deserving contender based on rankings
- Pyfer recently stopped former champion Israel Adesanya and is on a four-fight winning streak
- UFC 330 is scheduled for Philadelphia on August 15, Pyfer’s hometown
Sources: mmajunkie.usatoday.com
Sean Strickland is once again the UFC middleweight champion after his upset win over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328. The question now is who will he face in his first title defense.
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has suggested a name that might surprise fight fans. While Nassourdine Imavov appears to be the obvious choice as the top contender, Bisping sees another possibility.
Bisping, who now works as a UFC commentator, mentioned Joe Pyfer as a potential opponent for Strickland. He shared his thoughts on his YouTube channel this week.
“If you go with meritocracy, it should be Nassourdine Imavov, but you never know,” Bisping said. “Maybe they go with Joe Pyfer.”
Why Joe Pyfer Makes Sense
Bisping explained that he finds Pyfer to be a more exciting matchup. The timing could also work out perfectly with the UFC’s schedule.
The UFC is returning to Philadelphia for UFC 330 on August 15. Pyfer fights out of Philadelphia, which could make for a compelling hometown title fight.
Seven months ago, Khamzat Chimaev was the flat out favorite to be the champion of two UFC divisions at the end of 2026.
🏆 78% to finish the year as UFC middleweight champion.
🏆 60% implied probability to become UFC light heavyweight champion.
Sean Strickland?
Just 9% to end… https://t.co/ficd8wMQNz pic.twitter.com/EmPZ5YNgh4
— AFeldmanMMA (@afeldMMA) June 25, 2026
“I want to see a fun fight,” Bisping explained. “Joe Pyfer is a fight we haven’t seen before.”
Pyfer is currently riding a four-fight winning streak in the UFC. His most recent victory came in March when he stopped former champion Israel Adesanya.
The win over Adesanya was particularly impressive. Pyfer finished the fight with punches in the second round.
“Joe Pyfer, as we know, destroyed Israel Adesanya in the second round,” Bisping said. “Stopped him with punches in the second round.”
Pyfer has only one loss in the UFC. That came against Jack Hermansson, where Pyfer got tired after chasing a knockout. Bisping believes Pyfer has fixed those issues since then.
The Case for Imavov
Bisping acknowledged that Imavov deserves the title shot based on rankings and recent performance. He called the French fighter “the rightful next contender.”
However, Bisping thinks the UFC might consider other factors beyond just rankings. The promotion has a history of making fights that generate excitement and make business sense.
Bisping said Pyfer has “a very entertaining style” that fans would enjoy. He believes a fight between Strickland and Pyfer would appeal to viewers.
“I’m sure that everyone would love to see Sean Strickland vs. Joe Pyfer,” Bisping said.
The Philadelphia event in August would be a quick turnaround for Strickland after his win at UFC 328. Bisping noted this timeline would be tight but possible.
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“That’s a very quick turnaround,” Bisping said. “But hey, stranger things have happened.”
Strickland won the middleweight title this past Saturday with his victory over Chimaev. The win marked his return to championship status after previously holding the belt.
Pyfer goes by the nickname “Bodybagz” and has been making waves in the middleweight division. His four-fight winning streak has included increasingly high-profile opponents.
The UFC has not announced who will face Strickland in his first title defense. The promotion typically considers rankings, fan interest, and scheduling when making championship fight decisions.
