Nassourdine Imavov insists UFC wants him in title bout next: “I’m 100 percent fighting for the belt”

Nassourdine Imavov is confident that his next fight will be contested for UFC gold.

Imavov has long been viewed by fans and pundits as the rightful No. 1 contender for the UFC Middleweight Championship.  Some feel he solidified his spot with a dominant unanimous decision win over Caio Borralho at UFC Paris back in Sept. 2025. That was Imavov’s most recent bout, and many have wondered if he is holding out for that title opportunity.

During a fan Q&A session on Jaiden Cable’s YouTube channel, Imavov said that while he proposed a showdown with a former middleweight champion, he was told by the UFC brass that his next outing is for the title (via Home of Fight).

“I wanted to fight Dricus [du Plessis] to stay active, and the UFC told me I could only fight for the belt,” Imavov said. “After Khamzat vs. Strickland, I’m 100% fighting for the belt.”

Imavov actually has history with the reigning UFC middleweight titleholder Sean Strickland. Back in 2023, the two did battle in a light heavyweight bout. Strickland won that bout via unanimous decision.

After Strickland pulled off an upset win over Khamzat Chimaev back in May, he expressed interest in putting his gold at stake against Imavov. Chimaev has been calling for a rematch, but UFC CEO Dana White said the next 185-pound title fight will be decided by the fans.

Following his UFC OKC win over Kamaru Usman, du Plessis questioned Imavov’s inactivity during the post-fight press conference. This was prior to Imavov revealing that he asked for the matchup. Whether or not UFC matchmakers will book that matchup and Strickland vs. Chimaev 2 remains to be seen.

Should Nassourdine Imavov get the next crack at the UFC Middleweight Championship, or would you rather see the rematch between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev? Let us know in the comments below.