Daniel Cormier claims that one UFC star has ‘earned a title fight five times over’ against Sean Strickland

MMA legend Daniel Cormier has now identified who needs to be next in line against Sean Strickland for the UFC middleweight championship.

Sean Strickland became a two-time UFC middleweight champion after he defeated Khamzat Chimaev by split decision of their UFC 328 clash in Recent Jersey in May.

The 35-year-old American star had previously held the middleweight title after he beat MMA star Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in 2023 before his reign resulted in 2024.

Strickland fell short in the primary title defense of the middleweight crown after he lost to MMA star Dricus du Plessis by split decision at UFC 297 in Toronto.

Following Sean Strickland’s win over Khamzat Chimaev, how would you propose the following steps at middleweight?

Daniel Cormier feels that Nassourdine Imavov must have his shot at Sean Strickland ahead of Dricus du Plessis

Sean Strickland attempted to avenge his initial defeat to Dricus du Plessis after he challenged for the UFC middleweight title in a rematch at UFC 312 in 2025.

Nonetheless, the UFC star fell short on the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney after Du Plessis successfully retained the championship title by unanimous decision of their fight.

Du Plessis has put himself in contention for a trilogy fight with Strickland, but Daniel Cormier thinks that middleweight Nassourdine Imavov needs to be ahead of him.

“Now, Nassourdine Imavov has earned a title fight five times over,” ‘DC’ said on his YouTube channel.

“Nassourdine Imavov needs to be fighting for the UFC middleweight championship.

“Nassourdine Imavov has not been within the octagon for a extremely very long time.

“And with time comes the potential so that you can get omitted, especially when former champions are stepping on the road and competing.”

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Middleweight champion Strickland could possibly be facing a disorderly conduct charge for his behaviour on the Washington, DC fan fest

Nassourdine Imavov has revealed why he has been inactive within the UFC in 2026 amid Daniel Cormier’s claim

Nassourdine Imavov has won three of his last five fights within the UFC and has chalked up 17 victories overall in his 22-fight skilled MMA profession up to now.

The 31-year-old Russian-French MMA fighter previously faced Strickland in his light heavyweight debut and lost by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 217 in 2023.

Imavov’s last fight contained in the octagon got here in 2025 and the middleweight recently responded to Chael Sonnen on X, formerly Twitter, about his inactivity within the UFC.

“UFC has not offered you a fight since your last fight?” Chael Sonnen asked.

Responding to the previous UFC star, Imavov wrote: “Nothing! They’ve probably got larger plans for me… Seaaaan [sic].”

Imavov’s previous outing within the octagon was against Caio Borralho and resulted in a unanimous decision win at UFC Fight Night 258 within the Accor Arena in Paris.