Nassourdine Imavov did not expect Khamzat Chimaev to lose the UFC middleweight title at UFC 328, but now he looks ready to settle unfinished business with Sean Strickland.
Strickland shocked many fans on Saturday night when he edged Chimaev by split decision in the UFC 328 main event in Newark, New Jersey, reclaiming the middleweight belt for the second time in his career. After dominating the opening round with his grappling, Chimaev appeared to slow down as the fight progressed, allowing Strickland to take over during the striking exchanges.
“I was very surprised,” Imavov said after UFC 328. “I wasn’t expecting that. I don’t know what happened with Khamzat, but he looked different. But anyway, Strickland won. I will shut him down.”
Nassourdine Imavov had been widely viewed as the No. 1 contender before Strickland leapfrogged him with a stoppage win over Anthony Hernandez earlier this year. Imavov is currently riding a five-fight winning streak, with his last defeat coming against Strickland in a short-notice light heavyweight bout back in January 2023.
While Strickland admitted after UFC 328 that Imavov deserves the next title shot, Chimaev immediately began teasing a rematch despite reportedly telling UFC CEO Dana White that he wants to move up to light heavyweight due to a difficult weight cut.
Strickland also revealed after the fight that he entered the bout injured after suffering a shoulder issue during fight week.
“Funny story — on Tuesday, I’m sparring Johnny [Eblen], that motherf***er, PFL champ,” Strickland said during the UFC 328 post-fight press conference. “He shoots on me, and I hit his brick-ass wall, and I separate my shoulder.
“So I had a grade-one AC joint separation on Tuesday. I remember lying in bed Tuesday night, and I can’t lie on my right side. I’m like, ‘You’re such a f***ing idiot.’”
Despite the injury, Sean Strickland survived Chimaev’s early pressure and managed to keep most of the fight standing after the opening round. Still, things nearly went sideways late in the bout when Chimaev appeared to bait him into a striking exchange before shooting for another takedown.
“Did you see what he did to me in the fifth round?” Strickland said. “He pointed at the mat and said, ‘Let’s give the people what they want.’ So I put my hands up, and he f***ing shoots on me.
“I remember thinking, ‘Dude, if you lose this fing fight because you trusted this man, you’re a stupid motherfer.’ I was so salty.”
Even with the heated build-up before the fight, Strickland showed respect to Chimaev afterward, praising the former champion for his toughness and pressure across five rounds.
Now, all signs point toward Nassourdine Imavov getting his long-awaited title opportunity. The French-based contender wasted no time reigniting tensions after Strickland made controversial comments about him during the post-fight press conference.
“They say I take things too personally. Damn right,” Imavov posted on X. “Religion, family, nation. These aren’t marketing to me.
“Every insult comes with a price. You’ll pay for it! NO HAPPY ENDING.”
Sean Strickland, meanwhile, appears fully open to the rematch as long as it happens in the United States.
“I truly believe in UFC rankings,” Strickland said. “I think they f***ing matter, and I hate when guys jump them. So if that’s who it is, let’s go.”
With Khamzat Chimaev potentially moving up to 205 pounds, Nassourdine Imavov may finally be next in line for the UFC middleweight title.
