Chimaev Backs Strickland-Imavov 185 Title Fight, Targets Next Shot

Q: Why is the UFC allegedly prioritizing Imavov's title shot over a blockbuster Chimaev showdown?

The likeliest reason is sporting merit and timing, not a lack of interest in Chimaev. Imavov has built the cleaner title case at middleweight: he has been waiting roughly two years, is on a six-fight unbeaten run, and owns recent high-value wins over Israel Adesanya, Caio Borralho and Brendan Allen. He also already went five rounds with Strickland on short notice in 2023, giving the UFC an easy storyline for a rematch. By contrast, Chimaev is still a massive draw, but his path is less straightforward right now. He is talking about several options at 185, including Borralho, and is also competing outside the UFC this weekend in a wrestling match with Tyron Woodley. That makes him look active, but not necessarily locked into the next title fight. The UFC often favors a clear, division-specific No. 1 contender when booking a championship defense. There is also a matchmaking logic to preserving Chimaev. If the UFC believes he can headline a separate contender fight and still challenge for the belt soon after, that gives the promotion two major middleweight attractions instead of using both names in one title bout immediately. In that sense, Strickland-Imavov can satisfy merit-based title order, while Chimaev remains available for another high-profile matchup that keeps the division moving. Chimaev himself undercut any controversy by saying Imavov deserves the shot and that he will fight whoever holds the belt.

Q: Can a former champion expose Chimaev's grappling flaws before his long-awaited title fight?

Yes, but only in a limited way. Tyron Woodley can test parts of Khamzat Chimaev’s grappling before any UFC title fight, but this RAF match is not a perfect indicator of what would happen in MMA. It is a freestyle wrestling bout at a catchweight, not a full mixed martial arts fight, so it can reveal issues in Chimaev’s pure wrestling exchanges, pace management, or positional discipline, while telling us less about how he blends wrestling with strikes, submissions and cage control. Woodley is a credible examiner despite being 44. He was a two-time All-American wrestler at Missouri, a former UFC welterweight champion, and he recently showed he can still compete by rallying to beat Joaquin Buckley in RAF. That background gives him enough skill and experience to punish technical mistakes if Chimaev is loose in scrambles or overaggressive in entries. Still, the broader evidence suggests Chimaev remains difficult to expose. He already handled Dillon Danis quickly in RAF and continues to present himself as one of the division’s most dangerous grapplers. More importantly, his UFC title picture is tied to the middleweight queue around Sean Strickland, Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho, not to a one-off wrestling match. So Woodley may uncover small flaws, especially in timing or endurance under wrestling-only rules. But even if he does, it would be risky to treat that as a blueprint for beating Chimaev in a UFC middleweight title fight.

2 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · Sep 3

Khamzat Chimaev said he is unfazed by rumors that Sean Strickland could defend the UFC middleweight belt against Nassourdine Imavov in December, saying he will face whoever emerges with the title.
Imavov has waited about 2 years for his chance and enters on a 6-fight unbeaten streak that includes a knockout of Israel Adesanya and wins over Caio Borralho and Brendan Allen.
Strickland, who beat Chimaev to become a two-time champion, has been recovering from injuries but now appears on track to return before year-end if the rumored booking is finalized.
Chimaev said activity matters most and has already floated Borralho as a possible next opponent while vowing to stay at 185 pounds until he "break[s] everybody" in the division.
Before any UFC return, Chimaev is scheduled to wrestle former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in the RAF Moscow main event on Saturday in Russia.