Nassourdine Imavov says his next UFC assignment is supposed to be a middleweight title fight, not another stay-busy booking.
Nassourdine Imavov reveals his next fight will be for the UFC middleweight title.
“Of course, my next fight is a title fight. Before the Strickland vs. Khamzat fight, I wanted to fight Dricus to stay active, and the UFC told me I could only fight for the belt. After Khamzat vs.… pic.twitter.com/PInG4XJNMw
— FREAK.MMA (@FREAKMMA1) July 22, 2026
Imavov Points Toward Strickland
Imavov and Strickland already have history. Strickland beat him by unanimous decision in January 2023, when the bout was contested at light heavyweight after late changes to the booking.
Since then, the middleweight picture has been rebuilt several times. Strickland’s title run has already shaped recent MiddleEasy coverage, including his post-fight belt moment after UFC 328 and the aftermath of his win over Khamzat Chimaev.
Imavov has also kept himself near the front of the division. His run includes a major win over Israel Adesanya, and that result still helps explain why he is talking like a title challenger rather than another contender in line.
Dricus Du Plessis Stays In The Background
The Dricus piece matters because Imavov framed the situation as a choice between staying active and waiting for the belt. If the UFC really told him to wait, the promotion may already see him as the next clean title challenger once the Strickland picture settles.
Du Plessis has remained busy in the headlines after his recent work against Kamaru Usman, including debate around Usman’s foul complaints after UFC Oklahoma City. Imavov saying he wanted that fight first adds another layer to the division’s traffic.
For now, the firm part is Imavov’s public claim: he says the UFC told him the belt is the only fight available. Until the promotion announces the matchup, that leaves the division with one more contender loudly staking his place in line.
