Nassourdine Imavov vs. Edmen Shahbazyan targeted for UFC 268

A battle between middleweight prospects is the latest addition to UFC 268.

Nassourdine Imavov (10-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) will take on Edmen Shahbazyan (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) on Nov. 6, in an event which is expected to take place at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the targeted booking to MMA Junkie on Monday but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. La Sueur was first to report the news, and MMA Junkie subsequnelty confirmed that verbal agreements are in place and about agreements are expected to be finalized shortly.

Dagestan-born Imavov is coming off the biggest win of his career, a second-round finish of Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Ian Heinisch at UFC on ESPN 27 in July. The MMA Factory Paris fighter has won seven of his past eight, with five of those victories coming by way of stoppage.

Meanwhile, Shahbazyan will look to snap his first career losing skid. After starting out his UFC tenure at 4-0, including a knockout of perennial contender Brad Tavares, the formerly unbeaten 23-year-old has dropped back-to-back losses to Derek Brunson and, most recently, Jack Hermansson in May.

With the addition, the UFC 268 lineup includes:

• Champ Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington – for welterweight title
• Michael Chandler vs. Justin Gaethje
• Luke Rockhold vs. Sean Strickland
• Nassourdine Imavov vs. Edmen Shahbazyan