Sean Strickland offered $500,000 by challenger after UFC pay issues cause title fight delays

Nassourdine Imavov is willing to take matters into his own hands to get his title fight against Sean Strickland over the line.

Just a few weeks ago, Sean Strickland confirmed he’s fighting Imavov next while revealing that he had begun negotiations with the promotion regarding a title defense later this year.

With UFC 333 and 334 having already been announced, that just left UFC 335 as the potential card for the middleweight rematch, with that being the card that was being predicted.

Despite that, during UFC 332 this past Saturday, the promotion announced that Charles Oliveira will fight Diego Lopes at UFC 335, with the BMF title fight serving as the main event, while Alex Pereira will take on Sergei Pavlovich in a five round co-main event.

Despite having confirmed he would fight Nassourdine Imavov later this year, Sean Strickland will now have to wait until 2027 before making the first title defense of his second title reign.

Strickland suggested he was not offered enough money to fight the Frenchman at UFC 335, airing his current issues with the UFC online. Unfortunately for the American champion, ‘The Russian Sniper’ isn’t exactly a big name in the division, and it isn’t a fight that is expected to pull in big numbers.

However, Imavov is not too happy with the 35-year-old champion causing delays to their fight due to money issues, offering to pay Strickland $500,000 out of his own pocket to secure a fight against him in January.

“If it’s really about money, I’ll put $500,000 of my own money on the line if you beat me in January, I’m putting this on record,” Imavov said in a post online. “If you still don’t take it, then you’re just scared. I’ll handle you outside the cage, fake champ. UFC, STRIP HIM,” he continued.

The middleweight title fight could now end up being the first event to open up 2027, with all of the other champions either being tied up, or having fought more recently than Strickland. That isn’t the only matchup the controversial 35-year-old has been offered recently, though, as Colby Covington called Strickland out for a wrestling match under the RAF banner.

Covington is set to wrestle Strickland’s rival, Khamzat Chimaev, for the RAF Crossover title on November 14, but he is hopeful of match against Strickland before that date.