Outside Source
Imavov (17-4) is currently the frontrunner for a middleweight title shot against Khamzat Chimaev. Speaking of a potential fight against Chimaev, Imavov says he will focus on striking, which is his primary skill set. While Chimaev is a feared grappler, Imavov believes it will be unwise to abandon his striking and solely focus on grappling while preparing for Chimaev. Chimaev has also been teasing a move up to light heavyweight. Imavov has already considered the possibility of Chimaev moving up and remains unfazed by it. “The Sniper” notes that his goal is not to fight Chimaev but to fight for UFC gold.
The Belt is the Goal
“We’ll focus on our strengths,” Imavov told RMC Sport. “People think if you’re facing a wrestler, you must focus only on wrestling. That would be a mistake. I’m not a wrestler by nature. You see, I’m a striker. I’ll work on my strength. That’s what makes the difference. That’s how I win my fights. And without forgetting my wrestling of course. We’ll work heavily on takedown defense. It’s a scenario I’ve already played in my head [Khamzat might move up]. But it’s not that bad. All I want from the beginning is not to face Khamzat; it’s to take the UFC belt.”
Imavov is 9-2 in the UFC and riding a five-fight winning streak. The Frenchman most recently derailed the hype train of fellow contender Caio Borralho at UFC Paris this past September.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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