UFC’s first card of the year is right around the corner. After a four-week layoff, the action will resume and be headlined by a top-15 Middleweight clash. Let’s take a closer look at the Sean Strickland Vs Nassourdine Imavov fight card. Due to the short notice replacement as Strickland steps in for Gastelum, the fight will now be held at Light Heavyweight.
UFC Vegas 67 Sean Strickland Vs Nassourdine Imavov Fight Card
Light Heavyweight – Nassourdine Imavov Vs Sean Strickland
Featherweight – Dan Ige Vs Damon Jackson
Middleweight – Punahele Soriano Vs Roman Kopylov
Women’s Bantamweight – Ketlen Vieira Vs Raquel Pennington
Bantamweight – Umar Nurmagomedov Vs Raoni Barcelos
Prelims
Middleweight – Abdul Razak Alhassan Vs Claudio Ribeiro
Lightweight – Mateusz Rębecki Vs Nick Fiore
Bantamweight – Javid Basharat Vs Mateus Mendonça
Flyweight – Allan Nascimento Vs Carlos Hernandez
Featherweight – Daniel Argueta Vs Isaac Dulgarian
Flyweight – Jimmy Flick Vs Charles Johnson
Women’s Flyweight – Priscila Cachoeira Vs Sijara Eubanks
Sean Strickland Vs Nassourdine Imavov
An incredibly interesting matchup at Light Heavyweight between the #7 and #12 ranked Middleweight fighters. Imavov has won four of his last five in the UFC and is currently on a three-fight winning streak. His opponent Sean Strickland has found himself on the opposite side of the form. Losing his last two after his quick rise up the rankings.
Stepping in on short notice, the ever-game Strickland, is making a quick turnaround. Headlining the last UFC event, just four weeks ago. It was a close decision loss to Jared Cannonier in an all-stand-up affair.
His other loss was at the hands of the now-champion Alex Pereira. A win here for Sean would put him right back on track, and firmly inside the top 10.
Looking to claim his biggest win to date is Nassourdine Imavov. The Russia-born, French native looks to join Cyril Gane as a poster boy for French MMA. With impressive displays in the cage thus far, Imavov has risen the ranks quickly establishing himself as a man to watch.
The #12 ranked Middleweight looks to enter the top 10 for the first time against his toughest opponent yet. Taking out both Ian Heinisch and Edmen Shahbazyan via TKO before dispatching Joaquin Buckley over three rounds.
It’s an important moment in the career for Strickland, who despite his out-of-cage antics, has proved a reliable hand for the company. The UFC are big fans of active fighters and a few wins could see him right in title contention. For the 27-year-old Imavov taking out Sean will cement him as a threat at 185lbs.
The Best of the Rest
Dan Ige Vs Damon Jackson
A card full of underrated talent, you need to look no further than the co-main event. A Featherweight classic could be on deck, as Dan Ige returns to action against the surging Damon Jackson.
Ige puts his #13 ranking on the line having lost his last three all via decision. An elite competitor who can compete with the best, his recent form isn’t indicative of his ability.
Damon Jackson has re-entered the UFC with a bang. Losing just once in his six fights since making his promotional comeback. Currently riding a four-fight winning run he’s “Action” by name and action by nature.
Umar Nurmagomedov Vs Raoni Barcelos
Whenever you see the name Nurmagomedov in the MMA world you know you’re in for a rough night as a fighter. Umar is the latest to make a splash from the Russian Dynasty.
Cousin to the great Khabib, the #11 Bantamweight contender sits undefeated in his professional career with a 15-0 record. Entering the UFC he has won three in a row, finishing two via submission, making it seven overall in his career this far. Talented everywhere, at just 26, many believe Umar to be the future of the Bantamweight division.
His opponent will be Brazil’s Raoni Barcelos. An eight-fight UFC veteran. The 35-year-old was previously ranked at Bantamweight. After back-to-back losses, he lost his ranking but looks to regain it this Saturday.
A stand-up whiz with a black belt in BJJ, Raoni is a tough test that if you pass you’re bound for big things. With an overall record of 17-3 and a UFC record of 6-2, he’s not to be overlooked. Boasting an impressive ten career finishes, eight by KO/TKO and two via submission.
Javid Basharat Vs Mateus Mendonça
The last fight we’re looking at is a Bantamweight bout between two fighters on the rise. With a combined record of 23-0, these two prospects put it all on the line.
For Javid Basharat, fighting out of England he entered the UFC via DWCS. Since earning his contract he has gone 2-0 in the promotion taking out two tough tests via decision. A finisher of the highest order, his stunning striking and slick submissions have seen him rack up eleven stoppages.
Mateus Mendonça also earned his shot in the UFC via DWCS. Impressing on the show with a 48-second KO, he’ll make his debut this Saturday. Also, a finisher with six to his name the Brazilian will hope to continue his form which has seen him go 10-0 as a pro.
Two undefeated finishers in one of the UFC’s deepest divisions, both men could put their names into the minds of the higher-ups and earn a big opportunity next. Expect fireworks when the cage closes on this prelim fight.
Which fight are you most looking forward to on the Sean Strickland Vs Nassourdine Imavov fight card?
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images and Embed from Getty Images
