Sean Strickland has once again shaken up the UFC middleweight division after reclaiming championship gold at UFC 328 in Newark. The American star delivered another career defining performance by defeating Khamzat Chimaev and ending the unbeaten run of the former champion in dramatic fashion.
The victory added another major chapter to Strickland’s career, which already included his stunning win over Israel Adesanya in 2023. At the time, many considered that result one of the biggest surprises in modern MMA. Now, with another upset on his record, Strickland has firmly re established himself as one of the most dangerous fighters in the division.
While fans immediately speculated about a possible rematch against Chimaev, that scenario appears unlikely. Reports suggest Chimaev is considering a move to the light heavyweight category, leaving the middleweight title picture open for a fresh challenger.
That opportunity now seems destined for Nassourdine Imavov.
Imavov has quietly built one of the strongest winning streaks in the division. Consecutive victories against former champion Israel Adesanya and rising contender Caio Borralho pushed his run to five straight wins. Many fans and analysts believed those performances should already have earned him a title opportunity before UFC 328 even took place.
Instead, the UFC selected Strickland to challenge Chimaev, a decision that sparked debate across the MMA community. However, with Strickland back at the top, Imavov now appears to be next in line for a championship fight.
Speaking to RMC Sport after the event, the French contender revealed that he had requested a fight against Dricus du Plessis in a title eliminator, but the promotion declined the proposal. According to Imavov, the UFC is planning to offer him a direct shot at the belt instead.
If confirmed, the matchup would mark the second meeting between Strickland and Imavov. Their first encounter came in early 2023 when Strickland stepped in on short notice to replace Kelvin Gastelum in a main event clash. That bout took place at light heavyweight and ended with Strickland earning the victory.
Interestingly, the champion himself supported the idea of facing Imavov next. During the post fight broadcast, Strickland stated that Imavov deserved the opportunity, though he also admitted he wanted time to recover from a broken nose before returning to competition.
With the middleweight division moving quickly, all signs now point toward a high stakes title showdown between two of the UFC’s most in form contenders.
