Nassourdine Imavov to Serve as Backup for Middleweight Title Bout at UFC 319

Nassourdine Imavov will be ready to step in if anything goes awry with the UFC 319 main event combatants.

The Las Vegas-based promotion announced on Tuesday that Dricus Du Plessis will defend his middleweight crown against Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 319 headliner at the United Center in Chicago on Aug. 16. Imavov will weigh in as the backup fighter for the title bout, according to RMC Sport Combat. If either Du Plessis or Chimaev were unable to compete on that date, Imavov would get the main event spot.

Imavov secured the biggest victory of his career to date on Feb. 1, when he defeated former 185-pound champion Israel Adesanya via second-round TKO in the UFC Saudi Arabia headliner. The 30-year-old Frenchman has also bested Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier and Roman Dolidze during his current four-fight winning streak.

The MMA Factory representative made his Octagon debut in October 2020 and has compiled an 8-2 record with one no contest during his tenure with the Las Vegas-based promotion.