Khamzat Chimaev jokes he won't kill Sean Strickland because it's haram

In an interview with Adam Zubairaev, Khamzat Chimaev responded to fan speculation about his upcoming fight with Sean Strickland. When asked if he would refuse to release a submission hold on Strickland, Chimaev joked that he doesn't want to kill anyone because it's haram (forbidden in Islam). He clarified that killing is not his intention, and that officials wouldn't allow it anyway. Chimaev added that on the street it would be different, but inside the cage it's a sport. The exchange was lighthearted but addressed fans' expectations of an intense and potentially dangerous fight between the two middleweights.