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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Mike Bohn and Ken Hathaway

Sean Strickland expects ‘cowardice’ from ‘Frenchie’ Nassourdine Imavov in short-notice main event

Sean Strickland Nassourdine Imavov UFC Jared Cannonier Alex Pereira UFC Fight Night 217 MMA Junkie

LAS VEGAS – Sean Strickland was planning a snowboarding trip when UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard called him to see if he wanted to fight Nassourdine Imavov on five days’ notice.

After a brief negotiation and a pay bump, Strickland (25-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) accepted, and he’ll now take on Imavov (12-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) in a light heavyweight main event on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 217, which takes place at the UFC Apex and streams on ESPN+.

Strickland ushered out the UFC’s 2022 schedule when he headlined the final card of the year in a split decision loss to Jared Cannonier at UFC Fight Night 216 on Dec. 17. He’ll now close out the first card of the promotion’s 2023 campaign.

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