Sean Strickland holds the UFC middleweight title after reclaiming it with a decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 in May, extending his recent win streak. With no title defense scheduled through December 2026 and only weeks remaining in the year, the division’s top contender Nassourdine Imavov and others face limited paths to a championship change. Strickland’s ongoing pay dispute with the UFC has stalled negotiations for an Imavov rematch and prompted public comments about potentially vacating the belt or moving to light heavyweight, yet no immediate resolution or fight appears likely before year-end. This positioning drives the strong trader consensus around the current champion remaining in place through the close of 2026.