Sean Strickland backed to beat Nassourdine Imavov again by rival who beat him twice

Former middleweight rival Dricus Du Plessis has backed Sean Strickland to defeat Nassourdine Imavov in an anticipated rematch. Du Plessis, who holds two victories over Strickland, stated on Fight Forecast that Strickland's forward pressure and defensive focus provide the ideal antidote to Imavov's hit-and-run style, predicting a repeat of their first unanimous decision result.

The potential championship rematch comes amid an ongoing contract dispute between Strickland and the UFC, with reports indicating a purse offer of $400,000 to show and $400,000 to win. Consequently, Strickland was left off the UFC 335 card, likely pushing his title defense into the following year.