Nassourdine Imavov, coming off an impressive victory over former champion Israel Adesanya in February, is positioning himself for a potential middleweight title opportunity. He is scheduled to serve as the official backup fighter for the highly anticipated main event at UFC 319, where reigning middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis is set to defend his belt against Khamzat Chimaev. The event is slated for August 16th.
Confirmation from sources close to the situation indicates that Imavov is maintaining fight readiness for the card, which is scheduled to take place at the United Center in Chicago.
The UFC frequently employs backup fighters, particularly for significant main events or championship bouts, as a contingency measure. This practice ensures that if one of the headlining athletes is forced to withdraw from the fight on short notice due to injury or other issues, a qualified replacement is available to step in, preventing the cancellation of a key matchup. The implementation of backup fighters became more common during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued intermittently for select high-profile fights.
Imavov`s preparedness stems from his strong recent form, highlighted by the knockout win against Adesanya. This win extended his current winning streak to four consecutive fights. His notable victories during this run include bouts against Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier, and Roman Dolidze, performances that have significantly elevated his standing in the UFC middleweight division rankings.
Imavov holds a professional mixed martial arts record of 16 wins and 4 losses, with one no contest. His record within the UFC specifically stands at 8 wins and 2 losses, also with one no contest.
Despite his recent success, Imavov was aware that Khamzat Chimaev had already secured the next title shot, following his decisive win over former champion Robert Whittaker. However, by undertaking the role of official backup, the 30-year-old contender is now positioned on the immediate doorstep of potentially competing for UFC gold himself, should circumstances require it.
UFC 319 is scheduled to take place on Saturday evening, August 16th, live from the United Center in Chicago. The main card is scheduled to commence on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. Eastern Time.
