Latest news with #NassourdineImavov
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dricus Du Plessis Refuses to Fight Nassourdine Imavov if Khamzat Chimaev Pulls Out of UFC 319
Dricus Du Plessis Refuses to Fight Nassourdine Imavov if Khamzat Chimaev Pulls Out of UFC 319 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. UFC 319 is still months away, but anticipation is already building as the promotion prepares for its return to the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The event is officially scheduled for August 16. Headlining the event is a highly anticipated middleweight title fight between current champion Dricus Du Plessis and undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev. But even with the date locked in, controversy is starting to bubble—especially after the champ made it clear he's not interested in facing a particular top contender if the plan falls apart. Advertisement In a recent interview shared by RMC Sport Combat, Du Plessis voiced his singular focus on fighting Chimaev and made his stance on Nassourdine Imavov crystal clear. 'I have to be honest, if [Chimaev] pulls out of this fight early, I will not fight Imavov because I want to fight Khamzat. Dricus Du PlessisGetty Images I don't want anything else,' Du Plessis said. He added, 'If I'm already there, two weeks, I'll fight Imavov if [Chimaev] pulls out. If he pulls out on four weeks, I'm not gonna fight. I will wait for him because I want to beat him, because he's the best right now. I want to only fight the best of the best.' Du Plessis has also publicly expressed concern that Chimaev may not make it to fight night, adding more tension to the situation. Nassourdine ImavovGetty Images The remarks didn't sit well with Imavov, who fired back on social media with a sharp response: 'Thanks for the compliments @dricusduplessis but you're not Jon Jones, if something happens, you're not going to block anything, if you're not ready to defend leave the place.' Advertisement While Du Plessis didn't rule Imavov out entirely, it's clear he's not eager to risk his belt unless it's against Chimaev. Imavov, riding a four-fight win streak and fresh off a major victory over Israel Adesanya, isn't likely to take the sideline treatment lightly. As UFC 319 approaches, the drama outside the cage is already delivering plenty of action. Related: Francis Ngannou's Trainer Sends a Clear Message to Dana White About a Return to the UFC Related: Conor McGregor Reacts to Sean O'Malley's Camp Ahead of UFC 316 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nassourdine Imavov isn't waiting for a title shot, he's forcing the UFC's hand at UFC Paris
The post Nassourdine Imavov isn't waiting for a title shot, he's forcing the UFC's hand at UFC Paris appeared first on ClutchPoints. Nassourdine Imavov, the surging French middleweight and current No. 1 contender, has made his intentions crystal clear as the UFC returns to Paris on September 6. In a statement that signals both his ambition and readiness, Imavov declared: This mindset encapsulates Imavov's approach since breaking into the elite of the division. Not content to wait idly for opportunity, Imavov is set to serve as the official backup for the blockbuster UFC 319 main event between champion Dricus du Plessis and the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev on August 16 in Chicago. Should either fighter be forced to withdraw, Imavov will be ready to step in on a moment's notice for a shot at UFC gold. If not, he's already plotting his next move, headlining in front of a raucous Parisian crowd at the Accor Arena. The Road to No. 1: Imavov's Meteoric Rise Imavov's place atop the middleweight rankings is no accident. Over the past year, he has compiled a four-fight win streak, capped by a stunning second-round TKO of former champion Israel Adesanya in February, a performance that earned him his first UFC 'Performance of the Night' bonus. Prior to that, Imavov dispatched Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier, and Roman Dolidze, notching two finishes over top-five opposition in the process. His resume now reads like a checklist of the division's most dangerous names, and his confidence is justified. 'I cleaned the weight class in one year, four fights, two wins against top ten competition, two finishes against top five competition,' Imavov asserted after his win over Adesanya. Advertisement Yet, the middleweight title picture remains crowded. With du Plessis and Chimaev set for a high-stakes showdown at UFC 319, Imavov must wait just a little longer for his crack at the belt, or seize it if fate intervenes in Chicago. UFC Paris: The Perfect Stage for 'The Sniper' The UFC's return to Paris on September 6 marks its fourth consecutive year in the French capital, a testament to the sport's explosive growth in France. Imavov, who emigrated from Dagestan to France as a child and developed his fighting skills in Paris, is now the country's top MMA export. The Accor Arena will be electric if he headlines, with French fans eager to see their homegrown contender in action. Imavov's plan is simple: if he doesn't fight for the title at UFC 319, he'll call out a top contender for UFC Paris. 'If no one pulls out, we'll call someone out for Paris. That's the deal with the UFC!' he said, underscoring his refusal to let his momentum stall. Advertisement With du Plessis and Chimaev battling for the title, the question becomes: who is the ideal opponent for Imavov to secure an undeniable claim to the next title shot? Sean Strickland, the former champion, sits at No. 2 in the rankings and remains a high-profile name, but he's coming off a loss to du Plessis and may not be immediately available. Robert Whittaker, another former champion, is also coming off a defeat to Chimaev and is scheduled to face Reinier de Ridder. Israel Adesanya, whom Imavov just finished, is unlikely to get a quick rematch. One name stands out: Caio Borralho. The Brazilian is riding a 14-fight win streak, is undefeated in the UFC, and recently called for a fight with Imavov, believing their styles would make for a compelling main event. Borralho has also just bested Jared Cannonier, another divisional stalwart, and is hungry for a signature win to cement his own title credentials. Another possibility, though less likely, is a rematch with Sean Strickland, who previously defeated Imavov by decision. However, given Strickland's recent loss and the UFC's penchant for fresh matchups, Borralho remains the most logical and marketable option. Advertisement For Imavov, the stakes could not be higher. Headlining UFC Paris would be a career-defining moment, but the real prize is ensuring he is next in line for the middleweight crown. A win over a streaking contender like Borralho in front of his home fans would make his case undeniable. Related: UFC 316: Can a fully healed O'Malley dethrone Dvalishvili or is the 'Suga Show' over? Related: Joe Pyfer fires back at critics: 'I Didn't Get Fraud Checked!', aims at Bo Nickal in fiery rant
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nassourdine Imavov named official backup for Du Plessis vs. Chimaev at UFC 319
Nassourdine Imavov named official backup for Du Plessis vs. Chimaev at UFC 319 Nassourdine Imavov will weigh in as a backup for the middleweight title fight at UFC 319. Champion Dricus Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) defends his title when he meets undefeated Khamzat Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in the Aug. 16 main event at United Center in Chicago (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). Imavov (16-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC), who's coming off a knockout of former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC Fight Night 250 in February, has been named the official backup. A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the news to MMA Junkie after an initial report from RMC Sport Combat. Imavov earned the No. 1 spot in the UFC middleweight rankings after four straight wins over Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, Brendan Allen, and Adesanya. Imavov was called out by No. 6 Caio Borralho, but the French fighter dismissed his challenge due to having nothing to gain from facing a lower-ranked opponent.
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC veterans in MMA and bareknuckle boxing Jan. 31-Feb. 2
This week, the UFC returns to action with a Fight Night event in Dubai. UFC Fight Night 250 takes place at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 1. The event features a middleweight matchup between former champion Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov. Elsewhere, many other combat sports events are taking place, featuring several familiar names who have competed under the UFC banner. Check out which veterans of the global MMA leader are competing Jan. 31-Feb. 2. Scroll below to see how the UFC veterans fared last week, and see the names and details of this weekend's competitors. Upcoming event information from Tapology.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC Fight Night 250 weigh-in results: Adesanya vs. Imavov card official with one miss on prelims
Official weigh-ins for UFC Fight Night 250 took place Friday, and you can get all the results here. The weigh-ins took place at the UFC host hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The nearby ANB Arena hosts Saturday's event (ESPN+). Among those weighing in were former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (24-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) and Nassourdine Imavov (15-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC), who meet in the main event, and Shara Magomedov (15-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) and ex-Bellator standout Michael Page (22-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC), who fight in the 185-pound co-feature. The entire card was on point for their contracted weights with the exception of Lucas Alexander, who was 2.5 pounds heavy on the first attempt for his featherweight bout with the debuting Bogdan Grad. The full UFC Fight Night 250 weigh-in results include: MAIN CARD (ESPN+, noon ET) Israel Adesanya (185) vs. Nassourdine Imavov (185) Shara Magomedov (185) vs. Michael Page (185.5) Sergei Pavlovich (249) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (252) Said Nurmagomedov (135.5) vs. Vinicius Oliveira (135) Mike Davis (155.5) vs. Fares Ziam (156) PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 9 a.m. ET) Muhammad Naimov (145.5) vs. Kaan Ofli (145) Shamil Gaziev (260) vs. Thomas Petersen (263) Damir Hadzovic (155.5) vs. Terrance McKinney (156) Mayra Bueno Silva (126) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (125) Lucas Alexander (148.5) vs. Bogdan Grad (145.5) Hamdy Abdelwahab (260) vs. Jamal Pogues (264) * Alexander missed featherweight limit by 2.5 pounds; fine amount TBD For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 250. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Fight Night 250 weigh-in results: Adesanya vs. Imavov card official with one miss on prelims
