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Sean Strickland Confirms Nassourdine Imavov Title Fight. But There’s a Catch.
Sean Strickland has named Nassourdine Imavov as the opponent for his next UFC middleweight title defense. Before anyone starts planning fight night, though, the champion says there is still a pay deal to finish. The rematch is close, according to Strickland, 35, but it has not been formally announced.
Replying to a fan on X, Strickland wrote: “We’re discussing pay now. Once that detail is squared its locked in. The issue is no one cares about the fake Frenchman. We’re almost there”. The jab at Imavov came in the same breath as the update: the American world champion is talking about the fight as his next one, while making clear that the money is not settled. They are still in negotiations.
It would be Strickland‘s first defense since regaining the middleweight belt from Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 in May. The US-born athlete won their five-round fight by split decision in Newark, New Jersey, handing Chimaev his first professional defeat. Strickland later said he had separated his shoulder while sparring during fight week, and subsequently disclosed further shoulder damage from the bout.
Sean Strickland Says Imavov Title Fight Is “Almost There” as Pay Talks Continue
For Imavov, this is more than a shot at a title he has been chasing. It is a chance to revisit the last fight he lost. Strickland stepped in on five days’ notice to face him in January 2023 after Kelvin Gastelum withdrew. Their scheduled middleweight main event moved to light heavyweight, and the American fighter won a unanimous decision, with scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47.
Nassourdine Imavov and Sean Strickland (via ESPN)
A title fight at middleweight would put their second meeting in a different setting. Imavov has won five straight since then. He beat Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier and Brendan Allen before stopping former champion Israel Adesanya. His most recent win came against Caio Borralho in a five-round decision at UFC Paris in September 2025.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MAY 09: Sean Strickland reacts after the UFC middleweight championship fight against Khamzat Chimaev of Russia during the UFC 328 event at Prudential Center on May 09, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Imavov said after that fight that he had done enough to earn a title opportunity; he has not fought since. There is another former champion in the picture. Chimaev has sought an immediate rematch with the 35-year-old, but said earlier this month that he would take the winner of the champion and Imavov fight first.
That leaves the pay talks as the immediate obstacle to the matchup the UFC middleweight champion is now discussing publicly. December’s UFC 335 event in Las Vegas has been linked to the proposed rematch. Reports have pointed to December 12 at T-Mobile Arena as a rumor.
Sean Strickland (Via Sports Illustrated)