Sean Strickland’s First Title Defense Won’t Be Against Khamzat Chimaev or Dricus Du Plessis, Says #3 Contender

As UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland targets a December 2026 return, the opponent for his first title defense remains uncertain.

Sean Strickland’s First Title Defense Won’t Be Against Khamzat Chimaev or Dricus Du Plessis, Says #3 Contender

Sean Strickland's first title shot (via MMA Mania, MMA Fighting)

Sean Strickland shocked the UFC world at UFC 328 by ending Khamzat Chimaev‘s unbeaten run to become a two-time middleweight champion. Since then, speculation surrounding his first title defense has dominated the division. Dricus Du Plessis has emerged as an option after beating Strickland twice. However, Nassourdine Imavov believes every title discussion excluding him makes no sense.

Strickland was not part of the title conversation until his statement victory at UFC Houston in February 2026. He snapped Anthony Hernandez‘s winning streak with a TKO finish before earning a championship opportunity. Entering UFC 328 as a +425 underdog, Strickland stunned the MMA world by securing a split decision over Chimaev to reclaim the middleweight title.

Following UFC 328, Chimaev has remained vocal about earning an immediate rematch for the middleweight title. Dricus Du Plessis also recently strengthened his case by returning to the win column against Kamaru Usman. However, Nassourdine Imavov is currently unbeaten in six fights, making him believe he deserves the next championship opportunity.

My next fight is (for) the belt. Before the fight with Strickland and Khamzat, I wanted to fight Dricus to stay active, and the UFC told me I could fight only for the belt. After Khamzat vs. Strickland, I’m 100 percent fighting for the belt.

Sean Strickland via MMA Junkie

Imavov’s last defeat also came against Strickland, making a potential title fight a chance to avenge that setback. They headlined the UFC Vegas 67 event in January 2023 after Strickland accepted the bout on short notice. Strickland controlled the contest across five rounds and earned a unanimous decision, handing the Frenchman the most recent loss of his career.

Interestingly, Imavov has been vocal about receiving a title shot ever since his latest UFC performance. The French-Dagestani contender snapped Caio Borralho‘s nine-fight winning streak at UFC Paris in September 2025 with a statement victory. That result cemented Imavov’s place at the top of the middleweight rankings and kept him firmly in the title picture.

However, Imavov first earned widespread recognition with the biggest win of his career at UFC Saudi Arabia in February 2025. He knocked out former champion Israel Adesanya to establish himself as a legitimate middleweight contender. That victory cemented ‘The Sniper’ as a mainstay near the top of the division.

There were major doubts about Chimaev’s UFC 328 performance after he appeared unusually drained throughout the fight. Many believed the Chechen star struggled through a difficult weight cut before the title bout. Despite the loss, Chimaev has continued calling for a rematch with Strickland.

UFC CEO Dana White has confirmed that the next step in the middleweight title picture will ultimately be decided by fan demand. It remains unclear who Sean Strickland will defend his belt against when he returns. The champion is currently recovering from a shoulder injury and has targeted a return in December 2026.

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Sean Strickland vs Khamzat Chimaev Rematch Won’t Happen, Says Nassourdine Imavov Awaiting Title Shot

Sean Strickland buries ego by sparring with former rival

Anthony ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez enjoyed one of the fastest rises in the UFC middleweight division through a string of dominant performances. He gained major recognition after defeating top contenders Brendan Allen and Roman Dolidze in impressive fashion. Hernandez also set the middleweight record with 29 takedown attempts against Michel Pereira in October 2024.

Hernandez’s remarkable rise was halted by Sean Strickland in their UFC Houston clash in February 2026. Strickland delivered a disciplined striking performance before stopping the Dunnigan native with a third-round TKO. The victory snapped Hernandez’s lengthy winning streak and earned the controversial star a shot at the middleweight title.

Sean Strickland and Anthony Hernandez
Sean Strickland and Anthony Hernandez (via MMA Fighting)

The buildup to UFC Houston featured significant animosity between Strickland and Hernandez throughout fight week. Their rivalry intensified after Strickland upset Hernandez’s young daughter during the ceremonial weigh-ins. Following the fight, ‘Tarzan’ apologized to Hernandez, ending one of the event’s biggest storylines.

However, the animosity between Strickland and Hernandez now appears to be completely gone. Hernandez was recently seen sparring with Strickland at Xtreme Couture as he prepares to face Gregory Rodrigues at UFC Sacramento. Their training session highlighted the mutual respect between both middleweights as Hernandez looks to return to the win column.

Strickland’s latest session with ‘Fluffy’ once again showcased the intense nature of his sparring approach. The two-time UFC middleweight champion has built a reputation for refusing to hold back during training, regardless of his partner. That mentality has made his sessions some of the toughest and most talked-about in the MMA community.

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