Sean Strickland has responded to Nassourdine Imavov's callout following UFC 328. Strickland stated that he will take a short break and travel to support his "brother" Alex at the White House. The response indicates Strickland is not immediately addressing the callout from Imavov. Instead, his priority is attending what appears to be an event involving Alex Pereira at the White House. No timeline was given for when Strickland might return to active competition or address potential future opponents.
Sean Strickland has acknowledged a callout from Nassourdine Imavov in the wake of UFC 328, but the reigning middleweight champion made clear that fighting is not his immediate priority — instead, he plans to travel and support his close friend Alex Pereira at a White House event.
Strickland, 35, holds a 31-7-0 record and currently sits atop the middleweight division. The American fighter out of Xtreme Couture is one of the busiest strikers in the UFC, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy. Despite his reputation as a pure striker, he also averages 0.71 takedowns per 15 minutes. He gave no timeline for a return to competition or any indication of when he might formally respond to Imavov's challenge.
Imavov, ranked number one in the middleweight division, made the callout following UFC 328. The 30-year-old Frenchman carries a 17-4-0 record and trains out of MMA Factory. Standing six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach, "The Sniper" lands 4.28 significant strikes per minute at an accuracy rate of 54 percent, and he is notably more active in the grappling game than Strickland, averaging one submission attempt per 15 minutes.
Strickland's stated reason for the delay centers on light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. The Brazilian champion, 38, holds a 13-4-0 record and is coming off his own championship obligations. Strickland referred to Pereira as his "brother" and indicated attending the White House event alongside him takes precedence over any competitive planning at this stage.
Why it matters
- Imavov is the number-one-ranked middleweight, making him the division's most logical title contender
- A potential Strickland vs. Imavov matchup would pit the division's highest-volume striker against one of its most accurate
- No fight has been officially announced, leaving the middleweight title picture unsettled following UFC 328
Saturday, May 9, 2026
