Nassourdine Imavov is catching the eye of many as he rises through the UFC ranks.
The rising UFC middleweight has been picking up steam in recent years, and that includes his showing against Edmen Shahbazyan back at UFC 268 in late 2021. Imavov (12-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) defeated Shahbazyan by second-round TKO, as he used some nasty elbows from top to get the job done. It was his second stoppage win since joining the UFC in late 2020.
Imavov is scheduled to take on short-notice replacement Sean Strickland in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 217 in Las Vegas
Imavov, a main training partner of former UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane, has won three fights in a row. After stopping Heinisch in July, the 25-year-old Dagestan-born, France-based fighter scored a second-round TKO of fellow prospect Shahbazyan at UFC 268 in November. He most recently edged Joaquin Buckley at UFC Fight Night 209 in September.
Strickland will headline the first event of 2023, as he did the final one of 2022. At UFC Fight Night 216, Strickland lost a split decision to Jared Cannonier. The defeat was his second in a row in a skid that also includes a knockout loss to current UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira in July.
Ahead of UFC Fight Night 217, relive Imavov vs. Shahbazyan in the video above. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 217.
