Nassourdine Imavov Responds to Dricus du Plessis Remark

Nassourdine Imavov has entered the conversation after Dricus du Plessis made a pointed, if lighthearted, remark about the middleweight contender during the UFC Oklahoma City post-fight press conference. Du Plessis had just returned to winning form with a unanimous-decision victory over Kamaru Usman when he was asked about the division around Sean Strickland. The exchange quickly turned toward Imavov, whose name remains part of the discussion over Strickland’s next opponent.

Du Plessis said he did not view the current and two-time 185-pound titleholder Strickland as being on his level because he has beaten him twice. He then added: “I beat him twice, and I don’t even know if Imavov is still fighting. Is he? He’s still fighting? Imavov.” The comment placed Imavov directly in a post-fight discussion that was otherwise focused on Du Plessis’ performance against Usman and the uncertain path ahead at middleweight. The supplied report says Imavov subsequently posted on X in what appeared to be a response to Du Plessis’ words, though the text of Imavov’s post was not included in the available material.

Du Plessis’ comment arrives amid a crowded middleweight picture

The Oklahoma City result gave Du Plessis a unanimous-decision win over Usman, and his remarks afterward showed that he is already looking closely at the championship landscape. In the same appearance, he framed his history with Strickland as a reason he does not see the champion as a comparable challenge. But he also mentioned Imavov by name, drawing attention to a contender who is riding a five-fight win streak and has been eager to face Strickland again. Strickland defeated Imavov in 2023, according to the report, making a rematch a meaningful possibility for Imavov if he receives the opportunity.

That possibility has not been settled. Dana White was asked at the UFC Oklahoma City post-fight press conference whether Du Plessis’ dominant win over Usman had done enough to make him the next challenger. White praised Du Plessis, but said the matchmakers had not decided who Strickland will face next. The report identifies more than one name in the mix: Imavov has openly voiced frustration about not getting a title shot, while former champion Khamzat Chimaev is also described as determined to secure a title bout. No matchup, challenger or timetable was confirmed in the material.

Imavov remains part of the debate despite no decision

Imavov’s reported X post ensures that Du Plessis’ jab did not simply pass without acknowledgement, even if the available source material does not provide the post’s wording. What is confirmed is that Imavov remains a five-fight winner seeking another meeting with Strickland. Du Plessis, meanwhile, has described a different sequence that would keep Imavov central to the division. Speaking to Full Send MMA, Du Plessis said Strickland should fight Imavov and get a title defense before Du Plessis returns for a third bout with Strickland. He said he has respect for Strickland and added that, in a different life, he might call him a friend. His proposed route still ends with a clear objective: taking the belt back.

• Dricus du Plessis defeated Kamaru Usman by unanimous decision at UFC Oklahoma City before making his comments about Nassourdine Imavov.
• Nassourdine Imavov is on a five-fight win streak and is eager to run back his 2023 fight with Sean Strickland.

For now, the exchange adds another layer to an unresolved middleweight situation rather than providing a final answer. Du Plessis has a fresh win and a stated interest in eventually facing Strickland again, while Imavov has momentum and a stated desire for a rematch with the champion. White’s comments leave the next challenger undecided. Until the matchmakers make that call, Imavov’s reported response and Du Plessis’ press-conference line stand as part of an active contest for position around Strickland.