Nassourdine Imavov is being linked to a December title fight with Sean Strickland, but the UFC has not announced the matchup. The rumor is compelling because it would reunite the middleweights under very different circumstances. Strickland won their first meeting by decision in 2023 after Imavov accepted the fight on short notice. Imavov has not lost since.
A rematch would give Imavov the opportunity to revisit the last defeat on his record with a championship at stake. It would also give Strickland a challenger he has already beaten, though the French contender’s six-fight unbeaten run makes the current version of the matchup more significant than the first. December has been mentioned in reports, but there is no confirmed event, signed bout or official date.
Imavov has built a stronger case for a rematch
Imavov’s position rests on results rather than the rumor alone. His unbeaten stretch includes a knockout of former champion Israel Adesanya as well as victories over Caio Borralho and Brendan Allen. That sequence has moved him from short-notice replacement to one of the clearest contenders at 185 pounds.
The first Strickland fight remains useful context. Imavov stepped in without a full camp tailored to the opponent and lost on the scorecards. None of that guarantees a different result in a second meeting, but it explains why the proposed rematch does not feel like an immediate rerun. Imavov has had six fights to improve his position, while Strickland now holds the title.
There is also a practical reason to keep the language cautious. Title-fight plans can change before contracts are signed, particularly when a date has not been announced. Imavov’s recent wins support his candidacy, but only the UFC can turn that case into a booking. For now, he is a leading option rather than a confirmed challenger.
Chimaev reacted without confirming the fight
Khamzat Chimaev added attention to the story when he described Imavov as the contender and said he would take the winner. His comment reflects his own interest in the middleweight title picture. It is not evidence that Strickland and Imavov have been booked, nor does it establish what the UFC plans for Chimaev next.
The reaction does show how quickly a possible rematch can affect the division around it. A Strickland-Imavov title fight would produce a champion with an obvious history against other leading names, while Chimaev is positioning himself for the outcome. That wider interest makes the rumor important even before it becomes official.
Imavov does not need Chimaev’s endorsement to explain his place in the conversation. Six fights without a defeat, a stoppage of Adesanya and wins over Borralho and Allen form a credible title résumé. The uncertainty concerns the booking, not the work that put him near the front of the queue.
- Imavov is unbeaten in six fights since losing a short-notice decision to Strickland in 2023.
- His recent run includes victories over Israel Adesanya, Caio Borralho and Brendan Allen.
- A December title rematch has been discussed, but the UFC has not announced it.
| Part of the story | Current status |
|---|---|
| First meeting | Strickland defeated Imavov by decision in 2023. |
| Imavov’s form | He has gone six fights unbeaten since that loss. |
| Proposed rematch | Reports point to December, but no official booking has been released. |
A second fight would also answer a question the first one could not. Imavov entered that 2023 contest as a replacement and competed at light heavyweight, while the proposed rematch would come after a full rise through the middleweight field. Strickland would still carry the confidence of having beaten him once, but the preparation, weight-class context and stakes would be different. That contrast gives the matchup sporting value beyond its championship label.
The appeal of the rematch is easy to see. Imavov can measure his progress against the last man to defeat him, while Strickland would defend against a challenger whose résumé has changed substantially since their first fight. It has history, current form and championship stakes without needing any extra promotion.
What it does not yet have is confirmation. Until the UFC announces the bout, December remains a reported possibility. Imavov has done enough to belong in the discussion; the final matchmaking decision is still pending.
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