Joe Pyfer backs Sean Strickland‘s pay fight with the UFC but calls Nassourdine Imavov‘s title campaign a bit ridiculous. The belt stays frozen.
A Title Frozen Over Money
Sean Strickland has held the middleweight title since beating Khamzat Chimaev by split decision at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026. Since then, the champion has refused to sign a new contract or set a defense date until the UFC revisits his pay. He has publicly floated vacating the belt, finishing his contract at light heavyweight, and then moving into boxing, naming a fight with Jake Paul as an option. Earlier in October, he had already called for a boxing match against Jai Opetaia, a request UFC CEO Dana White shut down. The division’s next marquee card, UFC 335 on December 12, was announced without him.
Imavov Turns Up the Heat
Nassourdine Imavov has positioned himself as the mandatory title challenger. The French contender is ranked number 3 at middleweight and rides a five fight winning streak: Roman Dolidze in February 2024, Jared Cannonier by TKO in June 2024, Brendan Allen by unanimous decision in September 2024, Israel Adesanya by TKO in February 2025, and Caio Borralho by unanimous decision in September 2025. On October 7, he confronted Strickland in person outside the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, pressing him on why the fight contract still was not signed. Imavov offered to cover a reported 500,000 dollar shortfall out of his own pocket and called on the UFC to strip Strickland if he keeps refusing the fight. People close to both men stepped in before UFC security held Imavov back. Strickland called the episode cringe on X, questioned why Imavov waited for him at the Performance Institute instead of their shared gym, and suggested it was a publicity stunt. The two have fought once before, in January 2023, in a short notice light heavyweight bout that Strickland won by unanimous decision.
Pyfer Backs Him, Then Pushes Back
Speaking on Tim Welch’s Red Hawk Recap on October 16, Joe Pyfer, the number 6 ranked middleweight, defended Strickland’s pay stance. He said he respected it and that Strickland knows his worth, arguing UFC fighters fight for pennies on the dollar compared with the reported 15 million dollar guarantee given to Conor McGregor. The next day, Pyfer said the whole circus around Imavov is a bit ridiculous, pointing out that Strickland already beat him once and that Imavov is the one chasing the rematch, not the other way around. Pyfer still credited Strickland as hard to hit cleanly, saying only Dricus du Plessis has really gotten to him, before adding that he still leans toward Imavov in a hypothetical matchup.
Another Name in the Middleweight Mix
Pyfer put himself forward as an option if the standoff drags on, saying he would fight Imavov for a possible interim title. He also said he would rather see Imavov get the title shot than Khamzat Chimaev, who wants an immediate rematch after losing the belt in May. Chimaev had held the title for only nine months, taking it from Dricus du Plessis by unanimous decision at UFC 319 in August 2025 with a then-record 529 significant strikes landed, before Strickland beat him for it. Pyfer argued Chimaev should address his health issues before rushing back into the cage, adding that he does not know the specifics of Chimaev’s situation. Neither the UFC nor Imavov has publicly responded to Pyfer’s comments, and Dana White has not weighed in on the interim title idea either.
What Comes Next
No fight date has been set between Strickland and Imavov, and the UFC has not announced a resolution to the pay dispute. The standoff leaves the middleweight division without a clear next headliner for the coming months, with three names jockeying for position: Imavov, the self-declared mandatory challenger; Chimaev, the former short-reigned champion chasing a rematch; and now Pyfer, casting himself as both referee of the argument and a backup challenger. The UFC middleweight rankings, where Imavov sits third and Pyfer sits sixth, remain the number to watch as the standoff plays out, and American fans hoping for a quick resolution may have to wait for the pay dispute to clear before any contract gets signed.
