Sean Strickland has responded to Nassourdine Imavov's callout following UFC 328. Strickland stated he will take a short break and travel to support his brother Alex at the White House. The response came after Imavov challenged Strickland in the wake of the UFC 328 event. No specific timeline was given for when Strickland might return to action. The post provides limited details beyond Strickland's immediate plans.
Middleweight champion Sean Strickland has acknowledged Nassourdine Imavov's callout in the aftermath of UFC 328, but made clear his immediate focus lies elsewhere — with Strickland indicating he plans to take a brief break and travel to the White House to support light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
Strickland, 35, carries a 31-7-0 record and holds the middleweight title fighting out of Xtreme Couture. The American stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and is one of the division's most active strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. He gave no specific timeline for when he intends to return to competition.
Imavov, ranked number one in the middleweight division, issued the challenge following the UFC 328 card. The 30-year-old Frenchman from MMA Factory carries a 17-4-0 record and stands six-foot-three. He posts a striking accuracy of 54 percent and averages one submission attempt per 15 minutes, giving him a well-rounded offensive profile that makes him a credible threat to any champion.
Pereira, the man Strickland referred to as his brother, holds the light heavyweight title at 13-4-0. The 38-year-old Brazilian from Teixeira MMA and Fitness is six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach and lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy, among the highest figures in the sport.
Why it matters
- Imavov is the top-ranked middleweight contender, making his callout the most logical next title challenge in the division.
- Strickland's response offered no commitment to a fight date, leaving the middleweight title picture unsettled.
- A potential Strickland-Imavov matchup would pit the champion's high-volume pressure striking against a taller, more accurate counterpuncher with submission capabilities.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
