Nassourdine Imavov is calling for a rematch with Sean Strickland and insists there will be no happy ending for his rival. The French-Russian fighter is signaling his desire to settle the score after their previous encounter. Details about timing or specific plans for the rematch were not provided in the post. Imavov appears highly motivated to face Strickland again.
Nassourdine Imavov is publicly calling out Sean Strickland for a rematch, warning his rival that a second meeting will not end well for him. The French-Russian middleweight made his intentions clear, though no timeline or official booking has been announced.
Imavov, nicknamed "The Sniper," enters the picture as the number-one ranked middleweight contender with a record of 17 wins and 4 losses. The 30-year-old out of MMA Factory stands six-foot-three at 191 cm with a 75-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. He lands significant strikes at a rate of 4.28 per minute and does so with an impressive 54 percent accuracy, while also averaging one submission attempt per 15 minutes, making him a threat across multiple dimensions.
Standing across from him is the reigning middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who holds a 31-7-0 record and trains out of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. "Tarzan" is 35 years old, stands six-foot-one at 185 cm, and carries a 76-inch reach. Strickland is one of the highest-volume strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute, though he connects on 42 percent of his attempts.
Why it matters
- Imavov is the top-ranked contender at middleweight, making this a legitimate title-level matchup
- A rematch carries added narrative weight given their previous meeting and Imavov's pointed public callout
- The stylistic contrast is notable — Strickland's relentless volume versus Imavov's taller frame, longer reach, and sharper accuracy
- Imavov's submission threat adds a ground-game dimension to what could otherwise appear to be a striker-versus-striker contest
