Betting tips from AI for Khamzat Chimaev vs Nassourdine Imavov, 01 January 2026.

Nassourdine Imavov is the value play in this spot. He arrives riding a five-fight tear that includes scalps of Brendan Allen, Israel Adesanya and Caio Borralho, and his striking repertoire matches up well if Khamzat can’t bring full wrestling pressure. Market odds peg Chimaev as a heavy favorite at 1.18 while Imavov sits at 5.00.

The key news: Chimaev is reportedly sidelined by injury until mid-2026, which undermines his usual dominance and camp timing for a Jan 1 showdown. Given that, plus Imavov’s momentum and technical edge, a $1 bet on Nassourdine Imavov at 5.00 represents an attractive, profit-seeking upset wager.

The highly anticipated clash between Khamzat Chimaev and Nassourdine Imavov pits a dominant champion against a surging contender. Chimaev, fresh off snatching the middleweight belt from Dricus du Plessis, remains undefeated and is a formidable presence. His social media taunt, "work on that wrestling!", clearly signals his intent to exploit any perceived grappling weakness in Imavov, highlighting a key area where Chimaev excels.

While Imavov is riding a scorching five-fight tear, including impressive wins over Israel Adesanya and Caio Borralho, Chimaev's elite wrestling and relentless pressure are a different beast entirely. The bookmakers reflect this, listing Chimaev as a heavy favorite at 1.18. Despite Imavov's dangerous striking arsenal, Chimaev's ability to close the distance and control the fight on the ground will likely be the deciding factor. The champ is expected to solidify his reign once he's recovered from his injury.

Khamzat Chimaev enters this bout as the heavy favorite at 1.18, and with good reason. The undefeated champion has been dominant since capturing the middleweight title from Dricus du Plessis, showcasing his elite wrestling and improving striking game.

Imavov's five-fight win streak is impressive, especially victories over high-caliber opponents like Adesanya and Borralho. However, Chimaev's wrestling presents a stylistic nightmare for Imavov. It's telling that Chimaev specifically called out Imavov's wrestling deficiencies in his social media jab, indicating he sees a clear path to victory.

While Imavov's striking could pose problems early, Chimaev's grappling advantage should prove decisive. The champion's injury layoff is concerning, but his wrestling-heavy style tends to age well. Imavov at 5.00 offers intriguing underdog value, but Chimaev's dominance makes him the smart pick despite the chalk odds.

In this blockbuster middleweight title clash, Khamzat Chimaev enters as the undefeated champion, fresh off a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Dricus du Plessis to claim the belt. Despite a sidelining injury pushing his return to mid-2026, Borz's elite wrestling and relentless pressure make him a nightmare matchup. Nassourdine Imavov, on a blistering five-fight win streak with notable scalps over Brendan Allen, Israel Adesanya, and Caio Borralho, brings a sharp striking game that could test Chimaev if it stays standing. But Chimaev's social media jab about Imavov's wrestling hints at the champ's plan to drag it to the mat, where he dominates.

The odds reflect Chimaev's favoritism at 1.18, while Imavov sits at +400, offering value for underdogs but not enough to sway me. Pundits are hyped for this summer showdown, yet Chimaev's grappling edge and championship momentum should prevail in a gritty decision. As a bettor eyeing profits, I'm all in on the champ—his undefeated run isn't ending here.

Khamzat Chimaev's undisputed championship reign and social media confidence are countered by Nassourdine Imavov's scorching five-fight tear, including wins over elite strikers like Israel Adesanya. Chimaev's injury layoff until mid-2026 adds uncertainty to his January return, potentially favoring Imavov's momentum.

The odds at 1.18 for Chimaev show heavy favoritism, but Imavov's 5.00 presents value given his recent scalps and Chimaev's potential rust. Pundits debate if Imavov's striking can overcome Borz's wrestling, teased in their online exchange.

While Imavov's form is compelling, Chimaev's undefeated record and championship experience, coupled with his focused title defense before a move to light heavyweight, should edge out a tough battle, making him the safer bet despite the odds.

This matchup between Khamzat Chimaev and Nassourdine Imavov is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing clashes in recent MMA history. Chimaev, currently undefeated and holding a dominant 1.18 odds position, has been nothing short of spectacular in his rise through the ranks. However, his recent injury layoff raises questions about ring rust and whether his wrestling-centric style will retain its sharpness against a striker as dangerous as Imavov.

Imavov enters this bout riding an impressive five-fight win streak, including victories over top-tier opponents like Israel Adesanya. His confidence is sky-high, and at 5.00, he represents significant value for bettors willing to take a chance on his striking prowess. While Chimaev's trash talk highlights potential weaknesses in Imavov’s wrestling defense, it’s worth noting that “The French Sensation” has shown marked improvement in neutralizing takedowns during his recent fights.

Chimaev’s teasing comments about Ramadan suggest he may underestimate Imavov’s adaptability and hunger for the title shot. Given the timeline—Chimaev returning from injury mid-2026—it’s reasonable to assume Imavov will bring peak conditioning and focus into this contest. The combination of his momentum and favorable odds makes him a compelling pick despite being the underdog.

While Chimaev remains the safer bet due to his reputation and dominance, betting on Imavov offers both higher reward and a narrative backed by solid evidence.