Nassourdine Imavov promises no mercy for Sean Strickland

Nassourdine Imavov responded strongly to Sean Strickland's pre-fight comments, stating that insults about religion, family, and nation are not marketing tactics but personal affronts that will be answered. Imavov declared that Strickland will pay for every insult and promised there will be no happy ending for the American fighter. When a subscriber asked him not to embrace Strickland after the fight, Imavov emphatically replied he would never do so, stating he would rather die. The heated exchange suggests an intensely personal rivalry building between the two middleweight contenders.