Khamzat ChimaevvsNassourdine Imavov

Here's the thing, fans have been begging for this matchup ever since Khamzat became champ. You've got the unstoppable force in Chimaev, who just took the belt from Dricus Du Plessis with a dominant decision, against Imavov who's been on an absolute tear. The Sniper just knocked out Israel Adesanya and beat Caio Borralho in a five round war on home soil in Paris. This is the fight that answers whether anyone at 185 can actually stop Borz's relentless pressure. The stylistic clash is what makes this so sick. Khamzat's whole game is suffocating you. Remember that rear naked choke on Robert Whittaker in the first round?

The dude's a nightmare with his wrestling and submissions. But Imavov's striking is legit dangerous, and he's shown he can stuff takedowns and keep fights standing. That 69% striking accuracy against Brendan Allen wasn't a fluke. He picks his shots like a sniper should. What's crazy is Imavov's cardio and composure in championship rounds. He went five hard rounds with Borralho and looked fresh, while Khamzat's only been to decision twice in the UFC. Can The Sniper make this a long, technical kickboxing match?

Or does Khamzat drag him into deep water and drown him like he's done to everyone else? This fight would tell us if there's actually a blueprint to beat the champ. And let's not forget, this is for the middleweight title. Imavov's been climbing for years, and this would be his shot at glory. Khamzat's looking to prove he's not just a champ, he's a dominant one. The timing lines up perfectly too, with Chimaev recovering from foot surgery and targeting a return after Ramadan wraps up in March 2026.