In an interview with Adam Zubairayev, Khamzat Chimaev addressed fan speculation about his upcoming fight with Sean Strickland. When asked if security would need to break them up if he gets Strickland in a submission hold, Chimaev joked that he doesn't want to kill anyone because it's haram (forbidden in Islam). He clarified that he has no intention of killing Strickland, noting that while on the street anything could happen, in the cage it's a sport and officials wouldn't allow it anyway. The comments were made in a lighthearted manner during the interview.
Khamzat Chimaev brought some humor to the buildup of his upcoming middleweight bout against Sean Strickland, joking in a recent interview that he has no plans to put Strickland in serious danger — because doing so would be haram, or forbidden under Islamic law.
Speaking with Adam Zubairayev, Chimaev was asked whether security would need to intervene if he locked Strickland in a submission hold. The Borz laughed off the question, clarifying that while unpredictable things might happen on the street, inside the cage it is a sport, and officials would step in before things went too far. The remarks were made in a clearly lighthearted tone.
Chimaev, 32, enters the fight as the number-one ranked middleweight and sits tenth on the pound-for-pound list. The UAE-based Allstars Training Center product carries a 15-1-0 record and is one of the division's most dangerous grapplers, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His striking accuracy of 60 percent also stands out as elite at the championship level.
Strickland, 35, is the reigning middleweight champion, holding a 31-7-0 record. The Xtreme Couture standout from the United States is six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and is known for his relentless output, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. He brings an orthodox stance and considerable championship experience into the matchup.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's grappling volume and submission threat directly test Strickland's modest defensive grappling numbers
- A win for Chimaev would hand him the middleweight title and a first career championship
- Strickland must defend against one of the division's most physically imposing challengers at 188 cm and a 60 percent striking accuracy rate
- The fight carries significant divisional stakes, with the top-ranked contender facing the reigning champion
