Khamzat Chimaev addressed questions about whether he would refuse to release a submission hold on Sean Strickland during their upcoming fight. In an interview with Zubayraev, Chimaev laughed off the idea, saying he doesn't want to kill anyone because it is 'haram' (forbidden in Islam). When pressed further, Chimaev clarified that he has no intention of killing Strickland, adding that referees wouldn't allow it inside the cage anyway. He contrasted the controlled environment of sport with a street fight, where there are no such protections. The exchange highlighted fan speculation about Chimaev's intensity and submission skills.
Khamzat Chimaev addressed fan speculation about his submission intentions ahead of his upcoming middleweight clash with Sean Strickland, laughing off suggestions he might refuse to release a choke and offering a pointed explanation rooted in his faith.
Speaking in an interview with Zubayraev, Chimaev made clear he has no desire to kill anyone inside the cage, describing such an act as "haram" — forbidden under Islam. When pressed on the subject, he noted that referees would prevent anything of the sort from happening anyway, and drew a distinction between the controlled environment of professional fighting and a street confrontation where no such safeguards exist.
Chimaev, 32, enters the fight as the number-one ranked middleweight and the number-ten ranked fighter on the pound-for-pound list. The UAE-based Allstars Training Center product carries a 15-1 record and brings one of the most dominant wrestling profiles in the division, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His striking accuracy sits at 60 percent, among the highest in the sport.
Standing across from him will be Sean Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion. "Tarzan" is 35 years old, fights out of Xtreme Couture, and holds a 31-7-0 record. The American is one of the most active strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute, and carries a six-foot-one frame with a 76-inch reach.
Why it matters
- The exchange underscores how seriously fans take Chimaev's grappling threat against a champion whose submission defense will be tested
- Chimaev's submission volume makes the ground game a central concern for Strickland's camp
- The contrast in styles — Chimaev's wrestling-heavy approach versus Strickland's high-output striking — sets up one of the more compelling stylistic matchups in the middleweight division
