Middleweight champion Sean Strickland has confirmed he is in pay negotiations for a first title defence against top contender Nassourdine Imavov, with the fight expected to land in December. Strickland won the belt in May by defeating Khamzat Chimaev via decision at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey, but required several months of recovery following a pre-fight injury and a subsequent accident. Once financial terms are finalised, the bout is expected to headline UFC 335 on December 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Imavov is riding a five-fight winning streak that includes knockout victories over Israel Adesanya and Caio Borralho.
Sean Strickland has indicated that his first middleweight title defence is taking shape, with negotiations underway for a bout against top contender Nassourdine Imavov expected to headline UFC 335 on December 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight is not yet officially signed, with financial terms still being finalised, but Strickland has publicly confirmed he is in pay talks.
Strickland, 35, captured the middleweight championship in May with a decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey. The American southpaw out of Xtreme Couture carries a 31-7 record and is one of the sport's most prolific pressure strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a six-foot-one frame and a 76-inch reach. His path to this defence was complicated by a pre-fight injury and a subsequent accident that required several months of recovery.
Imavov, nicknamed "The Sniper," arrives as the third-ranked middleweight and is riding a five-fight winning streak that includes knockout victories over Israel Adesanya and Caio Borralho. The 30-year-old Frenchman, representing MMA Factory, stands six-foot-three with a 17-4 record and posts a striking accuracy of 54 percent — notably higher than Strickland's 42 percent. Imavov also averages one submission attempt per 15 minutes, adding a grappling dimension to his game.
Why it matters
- A win for Strickland would represent his first successful title defence, cementing his reign after an interrupted year.
- Imavov's five-fight streak and ranked position at number three make him the division's most credible available challenger.
- Both fighters are orthodox strikers with comparable reach, setting up a technical stand-up contest with Strickland's volume against Imavov's accuracy as a central dynamic.
- The bout is reported but not confirmed — finalisation of financial terms will determine whether it officially lands on the December card.
