Sean Strickland is the UFC’s reigning middleweight champion, but Khamzat Chimaev, the man he beat for the belt, says that isn’t the real story. In an interview with MMA Junkie this week, picked up by Sherdog on November 9, 2026, Chimaev said he is willing to wait for the winner of Strickland’s expected rematch with France’s Nassourdine Imavov rather than push for an immediate shot himself.
‘I’m the Real Champion’
Chimaev told MMA Junkie, “I didn’t lose that match. I’m the real champion.” He added, “I should fight the winner, because I’m the number one contender.” The quotes, also picked up by MMA Sucka and SB Nation on Yahoo Sports on November 7, 2026, show Chimaev pinning his loss entirely on the judges’ scorecards. Sherdog reports he had briefly considered a move to light heavyweight after UFC CEO Dana White floated the idea, before saying he wants his old title back first. MMA Sucka adds that Chimaev plans to take a break of several months to deal with minor injuries before his next fight. The comments quickly spread to BJ Penn, Sportskeeda and Yardbarker, a sign of how much attention the claim drew in the U.S.
A Split Decision Loss at UFC 328
Sean Strickland (31-7) beat Khamzat Chimaev (15-1) by split decision after five rounds on May 9, 2026, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, at UFC 328, reclaiming the belt he had lost to Chimaev in their previous meeting, according to ESPN and Sky Sports. Chimaev entered the rematch as a heavy favorite. According to Sherdog, he looked fatigued after a failed takedown attempt in the second round while Strickland took over on the feet; Chimaev’s camp later said he was dealing with a health issue he chose not to disclose before the fight. It remains the only loss of his career, and the UFC still ranks him the division’s number one contender, the same spot he held before he fought Strickland.
Imavov Sits at Number Three, Waiting His Turn
In the UFC’s official rankings as of October 31, 2026, Nassourdine Imavov sits third at middleweight, behind Chimaev at number one and Dricus Du Plessis at number two. The Frenchman is unbeaten in six straight fights, five wins and one no contest, according to MMA Sucka. He has already fought Strickland once, losing a unanimous decision in January 2023 after stepping in on short notice. Multiple U.S. outlets, including MMA Sucka and Essentially Sports, report the two men are negotiating a title rematch that has been delayed since the fall by a pay dispute. That earlier meeting, fought at middleweight, ended in a clear unanimous decision for the American, who snapped a losing skid that night, according to Sportsnaut.
A Pay Dispute Holds Up the Rematch
Strickland is working under a six-fight deal signed before he beat Chimaev, paying $400,000 to show and $400,000 to win, according to MMA Sucka. He has repeatedly threatened to leave the UFC for a boxing match over the disagreement on his pay. Imavov reportedly offered $500,000 of his own money to get the fight made, and the two had a confrontation at the UFC Performance Institute, MMA Sucka reports. MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn said on his podcast that the bout could land in February in Florida, after UFC 336 on January 30 in Toronto, though the UFC has not confirmed a date or location.
Three Fighters, One Belt
No date or venue has been made official for Strickland vs. Imavov. Khamzat Chimaev says he’ll wait however long it takes to challenge the winner and reclaim the belt he still considers his own. For now, the middleweight division has three men with a claim on one title: a champion under contract dispute, a French number three contender, and a former champion who won’t accept the judges’ decision. The situation stays open just days before UFC 334, where Ciryl Gane defends his heavyweight title against Josh Hokit at Madison Square Garden in New York, on a card the promotion has billed as one of its biggest of the year.
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