Morning Report | Chael Sonnen: Nassourdine Imavov ‘hasn’t demanded’ title shot, leaving door open for Khamzat Chimaev

The middleweight title picture remains murky following Sean Strickland's stunning upset of Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328. Strickland reclaimed the belt and publicly stated his belief that Nassourdine Imavov deserves the next title shot. However, according to analyst Chael Sonnen, Imavov may have undermined his own position by failing to actively campaign for the opportunity. Meanwhile, Chimaev has been aggressively pursuing a rematch, with his team attributing his poor performance to a difficult weight cut. UFC CEO Dana White has acknowledged the promotion has not yet decided the direction of the title picture, a delay that Sonnen suggests works in Chimaev's favor. The situation illustrates how fighters who remain vocal about title ambitions can sometimes influence booking decisions, even after a loss.