Nassourdine Imavov revealed that the UFC had planned a middleweight title fight against champion Khamzat Chimaev for December 2025 and February 2026, but Chimaev's injury forced the promotion to reschedule. Imavov, riding a five-fight winning streak against top-10 contenders, believes he deserves the next title opportunity. However, no contract has been signed, and the fight remains unconfirmed. Chimaev has expressed hesitation about facing Imavov due to their friendship and potential political implications as fighters from rival Caucasus regions. The title picture at 185 pounds has become muddied with Sean Strickland's recent impressive performance potentially affecting the contender rankings.
Nassourdine Imavov has revealed that the UFC had targeted a middleweight title fight between him and champion Khamzat Chimaev on two separate occasions — December 2025 and February 2026 — only for both plans to collapse due to an injury suffered by Chimaev.
Imavov, known as "The Sniper," enters the conversation as one of the division's most in-form fighters. The 30-year-old Frenchman out of MMA Factory carries a 17-4 record and currently sits ranked first in the middleweight division. His five-fight winning streak has come against top-10 competition, and his numbers reflect a dangerous, active striker — landing 4.28 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy, with submission threats mixed in at a rate of one attempt per 15 minutes. Standing six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach, he has the size to trouble anyone at 185 pounds.
Chimaev, the reigning middleweight champion fighting out of the United Arab Emirates under the Allstars Training Center banner, holds a 15-1 record and ranks tenth pound-for-pound. The 32-year-old known as "Borz" is one of the sport's most complete fighters, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 60 percent — numbers that make him a nightmare on both feet and on the mat. However, injury has now twice derailed his path back to competition, and reports suggest he has also expressed personal hesitation about facing Imavov given their friendship and the political sensitivities surrounding two fighters from rival Caucasus regions.
No contract has been signed, and the bout remains unconfirmed.
Why it matters
- Imavov and Chimaev both hold the number-one middleweight ranking, making this the division's most logical title fight on paper
- Sean Strickland's recent strong performance has further complicated the contender picture at 185 pounds, potentially creating a crowded queue
- Chimaev's injury history and reported reluctance add genuine uncertainty to when — or whether — this fight gets made
