Dricus Du Plessis backs Sean Strickland to beat Nassourdine Imavov a second time if the UFC books their rematch. The former middleweight champion laid out his pick on his own podcast.
Du Plessis addressed a potential second meeting between reigning champion Sean Strickland and French contender Nassourdine Imavov. The two first fought in 2023, when Strickland stepped in on short notice to replace Kelvin Gastelum and won a five-round decision.
Du Plessis makes his pick
Dricus Du Plessis made no secret of his preference for Strickland. He compared Imavov’s style to Israel Adesanya‘s, pointing to both fighters’ reliance on distance, footwork and kicks. Strickland, he said, already owns the answer to that kind of approach through constant pressure and output. “Imavov’s style is very similar to Adesanya’s, and Strickland has proven he has the antidote to that style,” Du Plessis said. “I honestly believe we’ll hear ‘And Still’ again.”
The former champion pointed to the pace Strickland forces on opponents. The Californian pushes forward without letup, backs fighters against the cage and throws a volume few middleweights handle across five rounds. Du Plessis argued Imavov has not changed enough since their first fight to flip that equation.
Strickland back on top
Sean Strickland reclaimed the middleweight title on May 11, 2026, at UFC 328 in Newark, beating Khamzat Chimaev by split decision over five rounds and handing the previously unbeaten Swede his first professional loss. The win returned Strickland to the top of a division he had left after losing the belt to Du Plessis.
Strickland’s formula has stayed the same since his first run atop the division: nonstop pressure, a deep gas tank and heavy volume sustained over five rounds. That approach was enough to beat Imavov on the cards in 2023, even on short notice after stepping in for Gastelum.
Du Plessis, also back in the mix
Du Plessis knows the division from the top, having ruled it before losing the belt to Chimaev in August 2025. He bounced back on July 18, 2026, in Oklahoma City, outpointing Kamaru Usman with a clear edge in significant strikes. The win pushed his record to 24-3 and put him back among the division’s credible title contenders.
That standing is where Du Plessis speaks from on the Strickland-Imavov matchup, having shared the cage or the spotlight with both men at the top of 185 pounds.
Imavov still waiting for his shot
Nassourdine Imavov never got over the 2023 loss. The Frenchman has pushed publicly for a rematch for weeks, but the UFC has not confirmed a date or an event for the fight.
His current standing argues in his favor. Imavov has strung together wins at middleweight since the Strickland loss and remains one of the best-positioned contenders for another crack at the champion. A win would put him directly in line for a title Du Plessis himself is also chasing.
A style that splits opinion
Du Plessis’s read on Imavov cuts against part of the fan base, which sees the Frenchman as a different kind of problem than Adesanya. Imavov hits hard with both hands, varies his angles and has shown solid distance management against explosive strikers. Whether he can hold up for five rounds against Strickland’s pace remains the open question.
The debate adds to the pressure already building around a fight the UFC has yet to make official. Public picks from fighters like Du Plessis only add to the push for the promotion to set a date and a venue.
What happens next is on the UFC
Nothing points to a timeline for this fight yet. The middleweight picture stays crowded, with Du Plessis angling for another shot at Strickland, Imavov pushing for his rematch, and the champion needing to defend his belt within a reasonable window. A title eliminator involving either challenger remains an option the UFC has not ruled out.
American fans already have a stake in the outcome, since a Strickland win keeps the belt on home turf, while a French win would send it to Imavov. Fans on both sides of the Atlantic will be watching the UFC’s next moves in a division stacked with legitimate contenders. For the latest on the schedule and upcoming cards, check the UFC schedule 2026 and the UFC rankings.
