UFC No. 7 middleweight Sean Strickland admitted to being enraged by Nassourdine Imavov's behavior during a staredown of the official weigh-in before UFC Fight Night 217.
You see how that motherf*cker looked at me at the weigh-ins? You guys see that sh*t? F*cking Frenchie. If I was in the streets and a motherf*cker looked at me like that, I would probably f*cking shoot him. But like when you look at me like that, I would f*cking cartel you and your f*cking family if you look at me like that, you motherf*cker. I hate when motherf*ckers do the stare down and they look at me like that. I f*cking hate it. At the weigh-ins he was standing like he wanted to kill me, and in the fight he was staring the other way, while I was like, "Come on, as*hole, look at me now!
Sean Strickland after UFC Fight Night 217
Strickland and Imavov's bout headlined UFC Fight Night 217, which took place on the night of January 14-15. The fight lasted all five rounds and ended with Sean winning by unanimous decision of the judges. Originally Nassourdine was supposed to fight Kelvin Gastelum, but 5 days before the event he suffered a serious jaw injury while training. Strickland agreed to replace Gastelum and came out on short notice, so the bout was in the light-heavyweight division.
Imavov, 27, had his previous fight against Joaquin Buckley in September 2022 at UFC Fight Night 209, winning by unanimous decision. He has 12 wins and four losses under his belt.
Strickland, 31, had previously appeared in the Octagon last December at UFC Fight Night 216, losing to Jared Cannonier by split decision. He has 26 wins and five losses on his record.