Sean Strickland could have a new date for the first middleweight title defence of his second reign, according to reports.

Strickland has been embroiled in a disagreement with the UFC over his purses, but he is locked into a lengthy contract that he signed prior to his shot at what was then Khamzat Chimaev’s belt. As a result, it seems that he will end up rematching Nassourdine Imavov for the title.

Do you stand with Sean Strickland or the UFC in this ongoing pay dispute?💸

Reports suggest the UFC are offering him $400k show and $400k win, while he wants more.

MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn reported on his podcast The Bohnfire tonight that the UFC are planning for that fight to take place in February. The event would land in Florida and would likely be the second numbered event of the year after UFC 336 in Toronto.

Sean Strickland and Nassourdine Imavov rematch ‘close to being signed’

It was expected that Sean Strickland would headline UFC 335 this December in his adopted home of Las Vegas, Nevada. His opponent is all but guaranteed to be Nassourdine Imavov, whom he defeated in January of 2023.

That plan fell by the wayside amid issues with the champion’s pay, which appears to have been solved. Strickland has also previously insisted he will never fight in Canada again, which would have ruled him out of UFC 336 in Toronto.

MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn has today reported that the bout is all but signed, and will likely be in the early part of next year.

“It’s going to be Imavov next,” Bohn told Luke Thomas during the latest episode of ‘The Bohnfire’. “I’ve heard it’s maybe even signed or close to signed for February for somewhere in Florida so I think this fight is happening.” Thomas noted that he had “heard similar”.