Holding his win streak alive, and in entrance of his dwelling crowd, Nassourdine Imavov picked up an important victory over the equally surging Brendan Allen within the co-main occasion of UFC Combat Evening 243. After being placed on his again for almost all of the primary spherical, Imavov proceeded to select “All In” aside for the remainder of the bout, denying virtually all of Allen’s takedowns and outlanding him on the ft. It was an in depth struggle, however ultimately, the Frenchman acquired his hand raised, incomes a trio of 29-28s on all three decide’s scorecards.
Popping out on high in what’s being thought-about a title eliminator by some pundits, Imavov could have simply punched his ticket to an enormous showdown with middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis. However with earlier opponent Sean Strickland having overwhelmed Paulo Costa final June and with Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev dealing with off in a pivotal matchup subsequent month, Imavov finds himself in murky waters. In any case, nevertheless, the French hanging specialist will undoubtedly be arrange towards a high-profile opponent in his subsequent journey to the Octagon.
Now, let’s check out who Nassourdine Imavov may struggle subsequent.
Sean Strickland
Within the very first struggle card of 2023, future 185-lb. titleholder Sean Strickland clashed with Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Combat Evening 217. Initially slated to face Kelvin Gastelum in the primary occasion, Imavov quickly was in want of a brand new adversary after the Final Fighter winner pulled out of their bout resulting from damage. Stepping up on lower than every week’s discover, Strickland answered the decision and the struggle was modified to a lightweight heavyweight contest, with “Tarzan” getting the unanimous resolution win.
Now, greater than a yr later, Imavov has improved by leaps and bounds for the reason that loss, going unbeaten in his subsequent 4 fights. Competing thrice in 2024 alone, he has racked up victories over the likes of Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, and, most not too long ago, Brendan Allen.
Strickland has additionally achieved a lot since sharing the cage with the Frenchman on that chilly Las Vegas evening. He subsequent went on to complete the possible Abus Magomedov, dethrone the legendary Israel Adesanya, and dominate Paulo Costa for 5 rounds earlier on in the summertime at UFC 302.
Ought to both of those two not get the subsequent shot on the middleweight strap, a runback between them will greater than possible produce the subsequent challenger to the throne. For Imavov, a win over Strickland will satisfyingly proper one of many few setbacks of his booming UFC profession.
Israel Adesanya
Final month, former five-time defending champion Israel Adesanya misplaced a heartbreaking match to Du Plessis, succumbing within the fourth spherical to a rear bare choke from the champion. Standing removed from the highest the place he as soon as dominated, “The Final Stylebender” might want to reestablish himself towards the subsequent wave of up-and-coming standouts ought to he want to contend for his belt as soon as extra.
For the streaking Imavov, a victory over one of many biggest blended martial artists in historical past would do wonders for his probabilities at placing himself in title competition. It additionally provides much more credibility to him being labeled as a top-tier striker within the promotion, if not the complete sport.
Dricus Du Plessis
Within the occasion Strickland or the winner of Whittaker and Chimaev doesn’t struggle for the title subsequent, then the one bout to make for Imavov is towards present 185-lb. kingpin Dricus Du Plessis.
Throughout his final three contests, Imavov has regarded immaculate within the get up division, beating a few of the greatest strikers within the division just like the aforementioned Dolidze and Cannonier. With Du Plessis not significantly recognized for his protection, Imavov, on paper, stands to be a nightmare for the South African on the ft.
However for all of the Frenchman’s boxing talents, “Stillknocks” isn’t the sort of fighter to remain upright for very lengthy, as he boasts an air-tight wrestling and submission means that has allowed him to defeat different masterful strikers within the types of Darren Until, Strickland, and Adesanya. This entire device package is the rationale why Du Plessis now resides on the No. 6 spot on the UFC males’s pound-for-pound rankings.