On January 15, 2023, Sean Strickland defeated Nassourdine Imavov by unanimous decision. It was a frustrating fight for the Frenchman, who has since expressed his desire for a rematch. In an interview given to RMC on May 30, the American finally responded.
Strickland vs. Imavov 2? For several months, the Frenchman (13-4-1NC) has been obsessed with one thing: getting his revenge on Sean Strickland (28-6). Beaten by ‘Tarzan’ in January 2023, the former MMA Factory fighter has repeatedly called out the American… to no avail. As he prepares for his fight against Paulo Costa, scheduled for June 2 at UFC 302, the former champion of the division has finally responded to ‘The Sniper,’ and he did not hold back.
As blunt as ever, Sean Strickland told RMC Sport Combat that he wasn’t particularly interested in a rematch: “I’ll tell you something. You can be a woman, you can be angry, but I beat you, and I’ll beat you again! You won’t get your rematch. Beat lower-ranked guys. Enjoy your life.” This statement is not surprising, given that Strickland is the former middleweight champion (-84kg) and is currently ranked number 1. Nassourdine Imavov, meanwhile, is ranked eighth in his category but could climb the rankings if he defeats Jared Cannonier (17-6), who is ranked fourth, on June 9 at UFC Fight Night in Louisville.
However, Sean Strickland hasn’t entirely closed the door on a rematch, as he concluded his statement with these words: “I’ll tell you something, you f***ing Frenchman: if you really want this fight, we’ll do it in Vegas.”