Imavov confronts Strickland at UFC P.I. as contract standoff delays middleweight title fight

Nassourdine Imavov tried to force the issue with UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas on Wednesday, with new footage showing a heated confrontation between the two fighters that had to be broken up by security.

Imavov, who is riding a five-fight winning streak and has prior history with Strickland from a 2023 bout, has been widely reported as the next challenger for the middleweight title Strickland reclaimed by defeating Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 in June. The fight, however, has yet to be formally booked, and Imavov made clear he has run out of patience.

“You not sign the contract? What is the problem? Money? I have money!” Imavov shouted at Strickland during the confrontation. When security kept the two apart and Strickland walked away, Imavov continued: “The problem is that he talks shit everytime, social media. I’m here now and he’s going. He’s a pussy, bro. Where are you going?! I’m here!”

Imavov then attempted to push past security to reach Strickland before guards intervened and ended the exchange. A member of Strickland’s team could be heard telling Imavov, “Nass, stop! This isn’t helping!”

Strickland responded on Instagram after the footage circulated, dismissing the confrontation as manufactured. “Cringe… His training partner knows our schedule because he’s trained with us,” Strickland wrote. “Tuesday and Thursday 10am xtreme but instead chose to go to the PI with the nicest more than likely underpaid staff and full security to get content… Definition of cringe.”

Asked what happened after the video cut off, Strickland added: “Nothing bro it was all fake content if anything it’s just mildly uncomfortable. 4 guys with iPhones and security lol I just felt awkward.”

The deeper issue, according to Strickland’s own social media posts on Wednesday, is a financial dispute with the UFC rather than any reluctance to fight Imavov. Strickland posted repeatedly about being unhappy with the money on offer and raised the possibility of vacating the middleweight title to pursue bouts outside the promotion — a development that would be entirely out of Imavov’s hands regardless of how hard he pushes for the matchup.