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MMA glossary

Playing tough

American expression meaning making oneself hard to get, playing hard to get, used by Nassourdine Imavov to describe Strickland's behavior in taking his time to sign for their fight.

Explained in Jab Life

Is Strickland stalling with Imavov? + UFC 332: Silva crowned and KO fest
October 5, 2026 · Aldric & Herbi · 39 k views

Is Strickland stalling with Imavov? + UFC 332: Silva crowned and KO fest

« Nassourdine the same on social media saying playing tough. So it's tough to get, it's the American expression that means difficult. You see, I'm playing hard to get basically. »

Animateur (voix principale) · at 10:26

Frequently asked questions

What does playing tough mean in MMA?
It is an American expression meaning playing hard to get, used to describe a fighter who takes their time before agreeing to sign for a fight.
Who used the expression playing tough?
Nassourdine Imavov used it on social media to describe Strickland's behavior in taking his time to sign for their fight.
Each definition is written from what is said in the show indicated, with the exact sentence spoken and its timestamp. No outside source.