Strickland On Pay Talks For Imavov Title Defense

Sean Strickland says he's wrapping up contract negotiations for his next middleweight title defense against Nassourdine Imavov.

The UFC champion, who beat Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 327 to reclaim the 185-pound belt, told fans on social media that the bout is close to being finalized once payment terms are settled. "We're discussing pay now. Once that detail is squared its locked in," Strickland wrote Saturday, per BJPenn.com. "The issue is no one cares about the fake Frenchman. We're almost there."

Strickland's Second Title Reign Takes Shape

Strickland's response came after a fan asked whether a matchup with Imavov, the number-three ranked contender, was confirmed. The champion added the hashtag #JesuisCharlie to his post, referencing a controversy involving the French fighter.

Strickland's run to a second championship has surprised many. His split-decision win over Israel Adesanya to first capture the belt was considered an upset, and his stoppage of Chimaev earlier this year stunned observers who expected the Chechen wrestler to dominate. Strickland's first reign lasted only one defense before he lost the strap.

The middleweight division has lacked movement at the top in recent months. An Imavov defense would give Strickland a chance to build a longer title run than his initial stint with the belt. No date or venue has been announced for the bout.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Sean Strickland provides an update on his next UFC fight