Joe Pyfer calls Nassourdine Imavov's pursuit of Sean Strickland 'a little bit ridiculous'

UFC middleweight contender Joe Pyfer has criticised Nassourdine Imavov's campaign to force a title rematch with champion Sean Strickland, calling Imavov's recent antics "a little bit ridiculous." Pyfer made the comments on the Red Hawk Recap show with Tim Welch, in a clip shared on X by Red Corner MMA on Friday, October 16, and reported by Bloody Elbow on Saturday, October 17.

The remarks come as the middleweight title picture remains stuck. Strickland has no scheduled defense, and Imavov, the man widely expected to face him next, has spent the past two weeks trying to pressure the champion into signing.

What Pyfer said

"I think the whole antics stuff with like Nassourdine Imavov following him around, it's a little bit ridiculous," Pyfer said, according to the clip and Bloody Elbow. "I get it. He's trying to sell it, but it's like, brother, he's not afraid of you. He already beat you... Imavov wants it back. He's been waiting almost two years, but that's like his problem. Getting in the cage has nothing to do with Nassourdine Imavov."

In other words, Pyfer believes the hold-up is about Strickland's dispute with the UFC, not fear of the challenger. Strickland beat Imavov by decision in the main event of UFC Fight Night 217 in January 2023, according to MMA Junkie.

French outlet La Sueur, which also shared the clip, framed Pyfer's comments as a challenge to Imavov and wrote that he would like to face the Frenchman for an interim title if Strickland does not fight. That interim angle comes from La Sueur's framing; the quotes in the clip focus on Imavov's behaviour. Imavov has not publicly responded, La Sueur reported.

How we got here

• October 4: Imavov wrote on X that he would put "$500K of my own money on the line" if Strickland beat him in January, and urged the UFC to "STRIP HIM" if the champion kept refusing, Sherdog reported.
• Sherdog noted that an X user had claimed the UFC offered Strickland $400,000 to show and $400,000 to win, while Strickland wanted $1 million. Neither the UFC nor Strickland has confirmed those numbers.
• October 7: Imavov confronted Strickland at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, shouting at him about why he had not signed, before UFC security held him back, according to MMA Junkie. No punches were thrown.
• Strickland later called the scene "cringe" and said, "It was all fake content," according to MMA Mania.
• October 13: UFC CEO Dana White said Strickland "just signed a new contract in May" and disputed the pay figure the champion had suggested.

Strickland (31-7 MMA, 18-7 UFC) won the title for the second time with a split decision over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 in May. He has since threatened to vacate the belt, move up to light heavyweight to fight out his contract, or try boxing, Bloody Elbow and MMA Fighting reported. Imavov is 17-4 in MMA and 9-2 in the UFC.

Where Pyfer fits in

Pyfer was booked to face Bo Nickal at UFC 335 on December 12. Nickal said on October 15 that the fight had been moved to February, when the pair would headline a UFC card in Cleveland. The UFC has not officially announced that change. Pyfer's biggest win came in March, when he stopped former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC Seattle.

If Strickland does give up the title, the top of the 185-pound division could open up quickly. For now, no title fight is booked, and the champion, Imavov and the UFC are all arguing in public.