Top UFC middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov’s long-awaited middleweight title shot might hit another speed bump.
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland shocked the world once again when he handed Khamzat Chimaev his first loss in the cage earlier this month at UFC 328. After months of bad blood between Strickland and Chimaev, the two middleweights went back-and-forth in one of the best fights of the year, with Strickland earning the split decision nod.
Just hours after UFC 328, Chimaev and his team hinted at an ‘obsession’ in an immediate rematch with Strickland later this year. Chimaev initially told UFC CEO Dana White that he planned to move to light heavyweight after UFC 328, but White confirmed earlier this week that this has since changed.
In a recent interview, White confirmed that Chimaev reached out after UFC 328 to express interest in running it back with Strickland later this year. But White inferred that the UFC brass hasn’t made a formal decision on the next UFC middleweight title fight, with Nassourdine Imavov waiting in the wings for a title shot.
It didn’t take long for Imavov to take notice of White’s inference that the Strickland vs. Chimaev rematch is a possibility.
Nassourdine Imavov expects UFC to ‘stand on’ title shot promise
In a recent tweet, Imavov reacted to White’s comments about a potential Strickland vs. Chimaev rematch.
“Plenty of talk around the championship fight lately,” Imavov said.
“I believe everyone will stand on what they said [Hunter Campbell, Mick Maynard, Sean Strickland].”
Imavov hasn’t fought since defeating Caio Borralho at UFC Paris last year. He’s on a six-fight unbeaten streak and hasn’t lost since a short-notice light heavyweight matchup against Strickland in January 2023.
Amidst uncertainty regarding Chimaev’s next move, Imavov might get skipped over once again for the next middleweight title shot. The next few weeks could go a long way in determining the UFC’s next moves at 185 lbs.
Will Nassourdine Imavov win a UFC middleweight title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!