Nassourdine Imavov disclosed that the UFC had targeted December and February dates for his middleweight title fight against champion Khamzat Chimaev, but Chimaev's injury derailed the plans. The top contender emphasized his readiness for the bout despite recent developments in the division. Both fighters expressed mutual respect and willingness to compete if the UFC mandates it.
Nassourdine Imavov, who has secured five consecutive victories against top-10 middleweight opponents, discussed the status of a potential UFC middleweight title fight with champion Khamzat Chimaev. In an interview with MMA Fighting, Imavov revealed that UFC executives Hunter Campbell and Mick Maynard informed him during a Doha event of plans to schedule the matchup for December 2025 or February 2026. However, Chimaev's injury postponed those arrangements.
"So, no final news yet," Imavov said. "No contract signed or whatever. One of the last discussions I had with them was with Hunter Campbell and Mick Maynard in Doha, Qatar... they wanted to schedule the fight against Khamzat for December, then for February, but then Khamzat got injured."
Chimaev claimed the middleweight title with a decision victory over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in August 2025. In a December 2025 ESPN interview, Chimaev voiced reluctance to face Imavov due to their friendship and shared cultural background, noting potential online drama between Dagestani and Chechen communities. "He’s a good guy... If you ask me, I don’t want to fight this guy, because we know each other," Chimaev stated, but added, "If UFC wants it, I’m never going to say no."
Imavov echoed this sentiment: "Of course, I heard what Khamzat said and I 100 percent agree with him... if the UFC want to put this fight [together], they will go in and they will go full inside the cage."
The division's landscape has shifted since Imavov's September 2025 decision win over Caio Borralho at UFC Paris. Sean Strickland's third-round finish of Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston on February 22, 2026, has fueled speculation that he could bypass Imavov for a title shot. Additionally, Chimaev has expressed interest in moving to light heavyweight to challenge Alex Pereira, though UFC CEO Dana White prefers a title defense first.
Imavov acknowledged Chimaev's size: "I know him, he’s really heavy for the middleweight division and that’s why he wants to go up to 205." He remains open to any opportunity the UFC provides.
