Middleweight title contender Joe Pyfer has called Nassourdine Imavov’s recent antics ‘a little bit ridiculous’ after he ran up on Sean Strickland at the UFC Performance Institute.

For several months now, the promotion has been in talks with Sean Strickland and Nassourdine Imavov, attempting to make the next UFC middleweight title fight.

Despite that, Strickland is currently boycotting the UFC after he was unhappy with how negotiations went, criticizing them for not offering him enough money.

That led to Imavov confronting Strickland at the UFC Performance Institute, questioning why the American won’t accept the fight.

Do you stand with Sean Strickland or the UFC in this ongoing pay dispute?💸

Reports suggest the UFC are offering him $400k show and $400k win, while he wants more.

Joe Pyfer says Imavov confronting Strickland is ‘a little bit ridiculous’

The top of the middleweight rankings is probably in one of the strongest positions it has been in in recent years. And Joe Pyfer is one of several fighters who finds himself potentially just one win away from challenging for the 185lb title.

With the ongoing controversy surrounding his division’s champion, ‘Bodybagz’ has weighed in on the recent drama regarding Strickland and Imavov, criticizing the Frenchman for attempting to confront the American for issues out of his control. “I think the whole antics and stuff with Nassourdine Imavov following him around, it’s a little bit ridiculous,” Pyfer said on Red Hawk Recap.

“I get it, he’s trying to sell it, but it’s like brother, he’s not scared of you. He already beat you and I get it, Imavov wants it back, he’s been waiting almost two years. But that’s his problem. Getting into the cage has nothing to do with Nassourdine Imavov,” Pyfer continued.

Despite the champion’s recent complaints regarding his pay, Dana White weighed in on Strickland’s complaints, revealing that he only signed a new UFC deal earlier this year before his title clash against Khamzat Chimaev. With that, it seems unlikely that the two will come to any sort of agreement any time soon, potentially leading to a big hold up in the division.

When is Joe Pyfer scheduled to fight next?

That could present Pyfer with a potential opportunity to end up fighting for a vacant title. Strickland has made it clear that he will vacate the 185lb title if he can’t come to terms on a new deal with the UFC, before moving up to 205lbs to fight out his contract.

Pyfer was scheduled to fight Bo Nickal at UFC 335 this coming December, but Nickal recently revealed that his fight against Pyfer has been moved. According to the American wrestler, he will now fight ‘Bodybagz’ at an event in February 2027, in Cleveland, Ohio.