UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland‘s next title defense has been pushed into 2027, after purse negotiations for a rematch with challenger Nassourdine Imavov stalled out ahead of UFC 335. The delay has already reshaped one of the promotion’s biggest cards of the year, and it has drawn a pointed public challenge from the Frenchman himself.
A Fight Already Delayed
The rematch between Sean Strickland and Nassourdine Imavov was originally lined up for UFC 335, scheduled for December 12, 2026, in Las Vegas. Negotiations over the champion’s purse dragged on for weeks, and the bout has now been pushed back to January 2027, expected to land on the UFC 336 card instead. The UFC had to rework its December lineup as a result: UFC 335 will now be headlined by Charles Oliveira defending the BMF title against Diego Lopes, alongside the previously announced light heavyweight bout between Alex Pereira and Sergei Pavlovich. Reshuffling a title fight off a numbered card this close to the event is unusual, and it underscores how far apart the two sides remain on money.
A Dispute Over Money
According to reports over the weekend, Sean Strickland is asking for $1 million to take the January fight. The UFC has reportedly offered $400,000 to show plus another $400,000 to win, for a total of $800,000 if Strickland retains his belt, a gap of roughly $200,000 between the two sides. Strickland himself acknowledged on social media that the rematch was close to being finalized, with purse the only remaining sticking point between his camp and the promotion. For now, that gap is enough to keep one of the most anticipated fights in the division off the calendar, even with both fighters otherwise ready to compete.
Imavov Puts His Own Money Down
Tired of waiting, Nassourdine Imavov decided to force the issue rather than let the fight drift further into 2027 with no guarantee. The French challenger offered to personally pay Strickland $500,000 out of his own pocket if the champion agrees to fight him in January and wins, effectively closing the financial gap himself. “If it’s really about money, I’ll put $500K of my own money on the table if you beat me in January,” he wrote on social media. “If you still don’t take it, then you’re just scared. I’ll handle you outside.” He also directed a pointed message at the promotion itself, clearly frustrated with how long the talks have dragged: “UFC, this is your champ? Come on, strip him.”
A Rematch With History
Strickland and Imavov have already met once inside the Octagon, in a fight Strickland won that stands as one of only two losses on Imavov’s UFC middleweight record. A win in January would carry extra weight for the Frenchman beyond the belt itself, settling a score while also putting him in position to become the first French fighter to win a UFC world title, a milestone that would resonate well beyond his home country given how deep the current middleweight rankings run.
A Bigger Pattern at the Top of the Division
The standoff also reflects a broader trend at the UFC, where purse negotiations for title fights have grown tenser as fighters push back on short-notice terms ahead of numbered cards. Reshuffling a title bout off a card this close to the event remains rare and forces the promotion to rework an entire lineup on short notice. For a champion known for speaking his mind as freely as Strickland does, the episode adds another layer to an already outspoken run atop the division, while Imavov’s willingness to put his own money behind the fight signals he intends to keep pressure on both camps rather than wait quietly for a date to be handed to him.
What Happens Next
The UFC has not confirmed an official date for UFC 336, and neither Strickland nor the promotion has publicly responded to Imavov’s offer. If the fight comes together in January as expected, it would mark Strickland’s first title defense since reclaiming the middleweight belt, with his camp and the UFC still working through the financial details before anything is made official. Fans can track the eventual date once it lands on the UFC schedule, alongside where Strickland and Imavov sit in the current rankings.
