UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland has cast doubts on Khamzat Chimaev’s eligibility for a title shot. In an interview with UFC Fight Pass on October 22, Strickland candidly expressed his views on the matter.
Strickland's View on Chimaev
"Tarzan," as Strickland is known in the fighting world, stated that he appreciates Chimaev for his ability to "sell fights." However, he questioned whether Chimaev had truly earned his place in the title fight. "For some reason, people either like him or don't. To me, he's just a paycheck. He sells a lot of fights. People pay to watch, but he hasn't earned it," Strickland said.
The dispute arises from the co-main event of UFC 294 last Saturday in Abu Dhabi, where Chimaev secured a majority decision victory over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Prior to the event, UFC CEO Dana White promoted this matchup as a title eliminator, a viewpoint that Strickland contests.
Chimaev's Rise to Contention
Chimaev made his return to the middleweight division at UFC 294, having previously competed at welterweight. On short notice, Usman ventured into middleweight to replace Paulo Costa, who had to withdraw due to an elbow injury and subsequent surgery. The fight ended with one judge scoring it a 28-28 draw, while the others leaned in favor of Chimaev with 29-28 scores.
Prior to the bout with Usman, “Borz” had not fought in over a year. His last victory came via submission against Kevin Holland in a 180-pound catchweight fight at UFC 279 in September 2022.
Strickland's Disapproval
Strickland, who clinched the middleweight belt with a surprising unanimous decision victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 last September, expressed his disappointment with the UFC’s choice to grant his first title defense to fighters transitioning from welterweight. He had previously disapproved of the Chimaev-Usman bout when the Abu Dhabi schedules were announced, calling it merely a fight “to fill a seat.”
A Past Training Incident
Despite their professional differences, Strickland made it clear that he has no fear of facing Chimaev. He recalled a past training incident where Khamzat misinterpreted something he said, leading to a heated exchange. However, Chimaev didn't show up for the proposed face-off, and they eventually talked it out.
In response to Strickland’s remarks, Chimaev took to social media to respond, saying, “You’re next, don’t worry. You know how quickly I can finish you.” It seems the stage is set for a confrontation between these two fighters, adding another layer of intrigue to the world of UFC.
About the fighters:
Khamzat Khizarovich Chimaev is a Swedish professional mixed martial artist and freestyle wrestler who competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Sean Strickland is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion.