Nassourdine Imavov says he is still awaiting official confirmation of his long-anticipated title fight against UFC middleweight champion champion Khamzat Chimaev, despite multiple discussions with UFC brass about booking the matchup.
Speaking through an interpreter to Mike Heck of MMA Fighting, Imavov (17-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) revealed that while talks have progressed, no contract has been signed for a championship bout.
“No final news yet, no contract signed or whatever,” Imavov said. “One of the last discussions I had with them was with (UFC matchmakers) Hunter Campbell and Mick Maynard in Doha, Qatar, when it was a Doha event, and what they told me is that they wanted to schedule the fight against Khamzat for December, then for February. But then Khamzat got injured and they were thinking about when they can put this fight (on). But nothing (is) confirmed yet.”
Imavov has built a compelling case for a title opportunity. The French contender is riding a five-fight winning streak dating back to the start of 2024. Most recently, he defeated Caio Borralho in the main event of UFC Paris last September, a victory that solidified his standing as the division’s No. 1 contender.
While Imavov waits for clarity, former champion Sean Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC) has inserted himself into the title conversation. Strickland defeated Anthony Hernandez in the main event of UFC Houston last Saturday and has publicly campaigned for another crack at the belt.
Despite the added competition, Imavov remains confident that he will be next in line.
“We spoke recently with Mick Maynard, the matchmaker, and he was keen to see the fight against Khamzat, but we don't have final approval yet,” Imavov said.
