Nassourdine Imavov has found a new way to call out the middleweight champion. He’s offering to pay him. On Sunday, Imavov wrote on X that he would put half a million dollars of his own money up against Sean Strickland: “If it’s really about money, I’ll put $500K of my own money on the line if you beat me in January.” He added, “If you still don’t take it, then you’re just scared,” then tagged the UFC with “THIS is your champ? Come on STRIP HIM.” Since then he has kept pushing the idea. Sportskeeda ran his explanation of why he expects to win a rematch under the headline “EASY MONEY.”
The bet came in response to a post from the account @Erntastedfresh. It claimed Strickland is asking for $1 million to face Imavov on Jan. 16 at UFC 336, and that the UFC is offering $400,000 to show and $400,000 to win. The UFC hasn’t confirmed those numbers, and neither has Strickland, so treat them as a claim until somebody with a contract says otherwise. The money dispute surfaced a day earlier, when Imavov vs. Strickland wasn’t announced for UFC 335 in December. MMA account DovySimuMMA posted that Strickland was off that card because he wants more money. Imavov’s response at the time was short: “Playing tough.”
Strickland holds the belt because of UFC 328 on May 9 in Newark. He beat Khamzat Chimaev by split decision in the main event, and it was the first loss of Chimaev’s career. MMA Fighting reports that Imavov appears to be next in line for the title, though nothing is official. Chimaev hasn’t stopped asking for a rematch. On Monday he offered Strickland one lemon emoji, which is slang for $1 million. He also wrote, “Send me location and let’s fight, don’t care outside inside the cage.” As of that report, Strickland hadn’t answered either man publicly.
View post on X
So the champion is reportedly holding out for $1 million, and in the span of about 24 hours two contenders have publicly put money in front of him. Imavov’s offer only pays if Strickland wins. Chimaev’s comes with no venue and, apparently, no cage required. Neither one is how the UFC actually builds a title fight, but both are aimed at the same pressure point.
View post on X
My take: Strickland’s negotiating position is that he’s the champ and the UFC needs him, which is fine as far as it goes. Imavov sitting at the front of the line with nothing official isn’t a great look for a division that just got a real title fight out of Newark. Imavov’s $500,000 offer won’t show up on any bout agreement. What it does is put the money argument on Strickland’s side of the table. If the UFC 336 date on Jan. 16 is real, the next move belongs to the champion, and “playing tough” won’t keep the fight from going to someone else forever.
View post on X
