Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal make immediate prediction for Sean Strickland vs ‘technical’ opponent

Former MMA stars Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal have both reacted to Sean Strickland teasing his next UFC opponent inside the octagon.

Sean Strickland captured the UFC middleweight championship for the second time in his MMA career after his superb showing against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328.

The 35-year-old American chalked up a split-decision win at the Prudential Center in New Jersey and handed Khamzat Chimaev the first defeat of his MMA career.

Strickland had previously held the middleweight title after he won the belt from Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 before he lost the championship to Dricus du Plessis.

Talks are ongoing regarding a potential ban of the oblique kick in MMA, but do you think that is warranted? Let us know why…

Sean Strickland is now expected to return to the octagon to make the first title defense of the UFC middleweight belt that he took from Khamzat Chimaev.

The UFC middleweight champ took to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, and recently teased that his next fight was in the works with the UFC.

Strickland said that the talks around pay were the only hurdle left before his clash with Russian-French UFC fighter Nassourdine Imavov could be confirmed.

Speaking on UFC on Paramount+, both Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal welcomed the news from Strickland that a fight with Nassourdine Imavov could be next.

“I’m excited about that fight,” Masvidal said.

“Great fight. I like Imavov. He’s a sniper. He’s real, real technical. You can tell with the way he’s fighting; he’s always like thinking a couple steps ahead.

“He’s like, ‘If the guy does this, I’m going to do that.’ And Sean’s just all energy [by] just coming forward with that pressure. I think this is going to be an amazing fight.”

Poirier then added: “It’s hard to pick against Sean, though, man. After he just did that to Khamzat, you know.”

Masvidal talked up the challenge that Nassourdine Imavov would present to Strickland, but he still thinks the middleweight champ has the advantage.

“Imavov has a good style also to deal with the Strickland pressure, you know,” he explained.

Masvidal then added: “I’m gonna go Strickland, though.”

Poirier was on the same wavelength as fellow former UFC star Masvidal, who admitted that Strickland’s title defense would not be easy against Imavov.

“I think it is going to be a tough fight for Sean. It’s going to be a tough fight,” Masvidal continued.

Imavov, who has won his last five fights inside the octagon, previously lost to Strickland by unanimous decision during UFC Fight Night 217 in 2023.