Sean Strickland wrote on X that his title fight with Nassourdine Imavov now only hinges on pay. The UFC middleweight champion has not fought since May, and the Frenchman has not stepped into the Octagon in more than a year.
A negotiation down to the money
The champion posted a message on his X account presenting the financial talks as the last obstacle before signing. As translated by Actu MMA, his statement reads: “We’re talking about pay now. Once that detail is settled, it will definitely be done.” Sherdog reports the same post and adds the jab aimed at his opponent, whom Strickland calls the “pseudo-Frenchman” while claiming nobody cares about him.
The message does not specify the amount requested, the amount offered, or the timeline of the talks with the promotion. Sherdog notes that these financial discussions are the last identified hurdle before the fight is officially confirmed.
Neither the UFC nor either camp has made an official announcement so far. The contract is therefore not signed, no figure has been disclosed, and both sources agree that pay is the last open point.
A belt taken back from Khamzat Chimaev in May
Sean Strickland became middleweight champion for the second time by beating Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 on May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Sports Illustrated describes the win as a split decision and an upset, with Chimaev the reigning champion at the time.
The American has not fought since. On July 30, he wrote on X that his shoulder was healing but that he still needed a little more time, while naming Khamzat Chimaev among the possible opponents for his return. A fight with Nassourdine Imavov would be the first defense of this second reign.
Nassourdine Imavov has not fought since Paris
Born in Khasavyurt, Dagestan, on March 1, 1995, Nassourdine Imavov holds a record of 17 wins and 4 losses, plus one no contest. His last appearance in the cage dates back to September 6, 2025, at the Accor Arena in Paris, where he beat Caio Borralho by unanimous decision in the main event.
Seven months earlier, on February 1, 2025, he stopped Israel Adesanya by second-round TKO. Sherdog credits the Frenchman with a five-fight winning streak against top-of-the-division opponents. He has not been booked since the Paris card, which brings his wait to more than a full year.
The two men have already met, on January 14, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 217. Sean Strickland won by unanimous decision in a bout contracted at light heavyweight and accepted on short notice after Kelvin Gastelum withdrew.
The setting of the rematch would be different: middleweight, five rounds, and the belt on the line. In the meantime, Strickland lost and then regained the title, while Imavov beat Israel Adesanya and Caio Borralho, two names near the top of the same division.
The other open storylines at middleweight
The division has several competing paths. Khamzat Chimaev has shown interest in an immediate rematch after briefly considering a move up to light heavyweight, and Sean Strickland named him himself in July. Dricus du Plessis, who beat Kamaru Usman in his last fight, holds two wins over Strickland and could target a trilogy.
Nassourdine Imavov spoke up publicly in this context, with a message to the champion: “You’ll do what you’re told. See you soon.” Sports Illustrated ranked him second in the division at the time.
UFC 335 as the landing spot
Sherdog points to UFC 335, the December event scheduled in Las Vegas, which had no headliner at the time of publication. The event page lists the card for December 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, and now includes the title fight between Sean Strickland and Nassourdine Imavov.
Until the UFC makes an announcement, the date and the matchup remain subject to change. Neither camp has given a timeline for the end of the pay talks, and neither side has detailed the amount at stake. Actu MMA and Sherdog report the same version of events one day apart, with no statement from the promotion to confirm it.
