Chael Sonnen says Nassourdine Imavov hasn't demanded title shot

Chael Sonnen has publicly stated that Nassourdine Imavov has not demanded an immediate shot at the UFC middleweight title, a development that could open the door for Khamzat Chimaev to step into that opportunity instead.

Imavov, known as "The Sniper," carries a 17-4 record and is ranked first in the middleweight division. The 30-year-old Frenchman fighting out of MMA Factory stands six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach and has built a reputation as a high-volume striker, landing 4.28 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy. His grappling is present but secondary, averaging less than one takedown per 15 minutes. According to Sonnen, Imavov has not pressed the UFC to reward him with a title fight, which shifts the conversation elsewhere in the division.

That conversation naturally turns to Chimaev. "Borz" holds a 15-1 record and is also ranked first at middleweight, additionally sitting at number 10 in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 32-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center is one of the most physically imposing fighters in the division at six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. His offensive output is exceptional across both disciplines — 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 60 percent accuracy, paired with 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. That combination makes him a singular threat at 185 pounds.

Why it matters

• Both Imavov and Chimaev share the division's top ranking, creating genuine ambiguity over who is next in line
• Imavov's reported silence on a title push, per Sonnen, effectively clears a path for Chimaev's camp to make its case
• The style contrast between Imavov's striking-first approach and Chimaev's all-around pressure game underscores the stakes of whichever fight the UFC ultimately prioritizes
• The middleweight title picture remains unsettled, with two elite contenders at the top and no clear queue established