Sean Strickland's head coach Eric Nicksick believes Strickland earned the next middleweight title shot against champion Khamzat Chimaev after his impressive stoppage win over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston on February 21. Nicksick highlighted Strickland's peak performance and 'style points' for finishing Hernandez, who was unbeaten in his last eight fights. This comes after Nassourd Imavov was initially favored, but a prior title booking fell through due to Chimaev's injury. The win bolsters Strickland's case in the crowded middleweight division, potentially leapfrogging Imavov. Expect UFC to announce Chimaev's next defense soon, with Strickland as a strong contender.
