Following a notable victory over former champion Israel Adesanya in February, Nassourdine Imavov is advancing towards a title shot. He will take a significant step by acting as the official backup fighter for the middleweight championship main event between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319.
Sources familiar with the situation confirmed on Wednesday that Imavov is prepared to step in if needed for the event scheduled for August 16th at the United Center in Chicago.
The UFC frequently designates backup fighters to be ready in case one of the main event participants withdraws unexpectedly in the days or weeks before a fight. This practice became more common during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now occasionally used for key title bouts.
Imavov remains ready after his knockout win against Adesanya, which extended his impressive winning streak to four consecutive fights. This run includes victories over Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier, and Roman Dolidze, solidifying his position near the top of the UFC`s middleweight division rankings. He holds a professional record of 16-4 with one no contest, including an 8-2 UFC record with one no contest.
Despite his recent success, Imavov was aware that Khamzat Chimaev was the chosen challenger following his decisive win over former champion Robert Whittaker. Nevertheless, serving as the backup fighter places the 30-year-old Imavov squarely in contention for his own opportunity to compete for a UFC championship.
UFC 319 is scheduled for the evening of Saturday, August 16th, emanating from the United Center in Chicago. The main card is expected to begin at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view.
