Sean Strickland reveals final hurdle before ‘fake Frenchman’ Nassourdine Imavov UFC title fight

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland appears close to finalizing a title defense against contender Nassourdine Imavov, with negotiations currently focused on compensation. While the UFC has not made an official announcement, Strickland revealed on social media that the primary outstanding detail is financial terms before the bout becomes locked in.

Imavov (17-4) earned his title shot through an impressive five-fight winning streak, including 2025 victories over former champion Israel Adesanya and fellow contender Caio Borralho. His 2024 campaign was undefeated, with wins over Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, and Brendan Allen across seven months.

Strickland (31-7) reclaimed the middleweight title in May with a split decision upset over Khamzat Chimaev. The title reign represents a remarkable resurgence for the 185-pound champion, who rebounded from a knockout loss to Anthony Hernandez—itself a comeback from a UFC title loss to Dricus Du Plessis a year earlier.