Nassourdine Imavov claims UFC promised next title shot against Sean Strickland

Nassourdine Imavov claims the UFC has promised him the next middleweight title shot against newly crowned champion Sean Strickland. The French fighter revealed on YouTube that promotion officials assured him a title opportunity would follow Strickland's victory over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328, where Strickland reclaimed the 185-pound belt.

Imavov, who lost to Strickland in 2023, has built an impressive win streak since that defeat with victories over Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, Brendan Allen, Israel Adesanya, and Caio Borralho. The fighter expressed personal animosity toward Strickland, describing him as polarizing and dismissing his character. Imavov initially considered fighting former champion Dricus Du Plessis to stay active but was instructed by the UFC to wait for the title bout instead.

If the promised fight materializes, Imavov expects the championship clash to occur in October or November. His win streak and direct path to a rematch position him as a legitimate contender, though Chimaev has also called for a Strickland rematch following his title loss.