Khamzat Chimaev believes Nassourdine Imavov has a significant technical advantage over Sean Strickland ahead of a potential middleweight title fight.
Chimaev lost his UFC middleweight championship to Strickland at UFC 328 in May. Although an immediate rematch initially appeared to be the likely next step, speculation has increasingly centered on a potential title fight between Strickland and Imavov before the end of 2026.
Strickland and Imavov have already shared the Octagon once, with Strickland earning a unanimous decision victory over the French contender in January 2023. However, Chimaev believes Imavov has made significant improvements since that fight and could have the tools to turn the tables in a rematch.
Speaking to Adam Zubayraev this week, Chimaev gave his assessment of the potential matchup.
“It's also a tough fight. I hope that since their fight a couple of years ago, Imavov has improved his striking and will out strike him.
“Strickland is a very tough guy. He can outlast Imavov, but it will be tough. If Imavov feels good cardio-wise, technically I think he’s much better than Strickland. All fighters are much better than him!
“I replayed our fight thousands of times in my head. Before the fight, I couldn’t even imagine him beating me.”
Chimaev's comments are particularly notable given his recent loss to Strickland. The defeat marked a major setback for the former champion, who had previously been unbeaten and widely regarded as one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC.
