UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland is reportedly close to the first title defense of his second reign.

MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn reported that the UFC is working on bringing Strickland back as part of its early 2027 schedule, with a fight against Nassourdine Imavov being targeted for February “somewhere in Florida.” The fight is said to be close to signed, but it has not been announced. UFC 336 is set for January 30 in Toronto, so a February card in Florida would come after that event.

Strickland won the middleweight title for the second time at UFC 328 on May 9, when he beat Khamzat Chimaev by split decision at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. It was the first loss of Chimaev’s professional career. Strickland first won the belt by upsetting Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in September 2023, then lost it to Dricus du Plessis in January 2024 and lost a rematch to du Plessis in February 2025.

Chimaev has made it clear he wants another shot. In an interview with Red Corner MMA, he said he would follow Strickland to any weight class to get the rematch. “We will make this matchup, bro, don’t worry, if I’ve got to light heavyweight, heavyweight, wherever he goes I will go after him. Yeah, I’m the hunter and he’s a chicken running away,” Chimaev said. “If he goes I will go up. Who cares, I don’t care, bro, so for the pay I’m here.”

Dana White said after UFC 328 that Chimaev told him he wanted to move up in weight, which could take him out of the middleweight title picture. Here are four possible opponents for Strickland’s next defense.

Nassourdine Imavov

Imavov is the name being reported, and he has earned the shot. The Russian-born French fighter has won five straight, including a second-round knockout of Israel Adesanya in February 2025 and a decision over Caio Borralho in September 2025. He is ranked in the top three at middleweight.

It would be a rematch. Strickland beat Imavov by unanimous decision in a short-notice main event in January 2023, and Imavov has not lost since. It is the logical fight for the division, and it gives a contender who has been waiting his turn a chance at the title.

Khamzat Chimaev

The rematch is the fight with the most built-in interest. Chimaev controlled parts of their first fight with his wrestling, and the scorecards were close, with two judges giving it to Strickland 48-47 and one scoring it 48-47 for Chimaev.

Chimaev has also been the most vocal about wanting it. If he decides to stay at middleweight instead of moving up, the UFC would have an easy fight to sell, especially with the history between the two.

Dricus du Plessis

Du Plessis has beaten Strickland twice, by split decision in January 2024 and by unanimous decision in February 2025. He lost the title to Chimaev at UFC 319 in August 2025, then came back with a dominant decision win over Kamaru Usman in July.

A trilogy fight would give du Plessis a chance to become a two-time champion and give Strickland a chance to avenge the two losses. Du Plessis is also ranked No. 2 at middleweight, behind only Chimaev.

Israel Adesanya

Adesanya is the long shot on this list. He has lost four straight fights, most recently a knockout loss to Joe Pyfer in March. But his loss to Strickland at UFC 293 was considered one of the biggest upsets in the division’s history, and a rematch would still draw attention.

The UFC would likely want Adesanya to win at least one more fight before giving him a title shot, but his name value makes him a possibility if other plans fall through.