Fresh off an impressive victory over former champion Israel Adesanya in February, Nassourdine Imavov is positioning himself for a title shot. He`ll take a significant step by serving as the official backup fighter for the middleweight title bout between champion Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev, headlining UFC 319.
Sources familiar with the situation indicate that Imavov is staying prepared as the backup for the event scheduled for August 16 at the United Center in Chicago.
The UFC frequently designates backup fighters to be ready in case one of the main event participants is forced to withdraw shortly before the event. This practice became more common during the COVID-19 pandemic and is occasionally employed for major title fights today.
Imavov remains ready following his knockout win against Adesanya, which extended his winning streak to four consecutive fights. This successful run also includes victories over Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier, and Roman Dolidze, propelling him high up the UFC`s middleweight rankings.
Overall, Imavov holds a professional record of 16 wins and 4 losses with one no contest, including an 8-2 record with one no contest specifically in the UFC.
Despite his recent success, Imavov was aware that Khamzat Chimaev had already secured the next title shot following his dominant win over former champion Robert Whittaker. However, serving as the backup fighter places the 30-year-old just one step away from potentially competing for UFC gold himself.
UFC 319 is scheduled for Saturday night, August 16, at the United Center in Chicago, with the main card kicking off on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET.
