Former UFC middleweight champion and current analyst Michael Bisping believes Sean Strickland could end up facing Joe Pyfer next, even if Nassourdine Imavov appears to be the more logical choice on paper. Bisping floated the idea while discussing Strickland’s next move on his YouTube channel, adding another wrinkle to a middleweight title picture that remains crowded heading into the UFC’s next run of major cards in Las Vegas.
That possibility matters because Strickland is still one of the division’s biggest names, and any matchup involving him instantly reshapes the contender line. A fight with Imavov would look like a cleaner eliminator, but a matchup with Pyfer would likely draw more curiosity from American fans who see Pyfer as one of the UFC’s most watchable rising middleweights.
According to Bisping, the numbers may point toward Imavov, but Pyfer brings a different kind of intrigue. He said he wants to see an exciting fight, acknowledged Imavov as a legitimate contender, and noted that fans still have not seen Strickland tested against someone like Pyfer. Bisping also pointed to Pyfer’s current four-fight winning streak and said his lone UFC loss came against Jack Hermansson after fading due to exhaustion, a flaw he appears to have addressed.
From a divisional standpoint, the stakes would be obvious. If Strickland wins, he protects his spot near the top of the middleweight rankings and strengthens his case for another high-end fight. If Pyfer wins, the UFC suddenly gets a new American breakthrough contender with real momentum and finishing appeal. That is part of why this idea has traction even if it is not the most traditional booking.
For Strickland, the assignment would be about proving he can shut down a dangerous, aggressive younger opponent. For Pyfer, it would be the biggest credibility test of his UFC run. If this fight comes together, the buildup will be just as important as the result, because the winner could leave with a serious claim on the next defining opportunity at 185 pounds.