Imavov, who lost to Strickland in a closely contested matchup at UFC Vegas 67, now holds a five-fight winning streak in the division and has secured two notable knockout victories — one over former champion Jared Cannonier, the other over ex-titleholder Israel Adesanya.
Still, the 31-year-old French-Algerian fighter is aware that his next step depends as much on performance as it does on popularity. 'I think he's the only fighter in the UFC where it's so personal,' Imavov said about Strickland, explaining the heightened stakes of a possible rematch.
Imavov also pointed to Strickland's recent behavior, specifically a comment during the champion's fight week against Khamzat Chimaev when he referred to him as a 'terrorist.' 'It's very personal,' Imavov said. 'It's hard not to want to rip his head off.' Despite the tension, Strickland has publicly expressed interest in a rematch with Imavov, who remains undefeated since his loss to the champion.