In an interview with Adam Zubairaev, Khamzat Chimaev addressed speculation about what would happen if he got Sean Strickland in a submission during their upcoming fight. When asked if security would need to separate them because he wouldn't let go, Chimaev clarified that he does not want to kill anyone because it is haram (forbidden in Islam). He joked that while he wouldn't be allowed to kill Strickland in the cage anyway, on the street it would be different. Chimaev emphasized that their encounter is a sport, not a street fight. The exchange was light-hearted but underscored Chimaev's confidence heading into the bout.
Khamzat Chimaev has offered a characteristically blunt explanation for why Sean Strickland will survive any submission attempt in their upcoming middleweight clash — killing, he noted, is haram.
Speaking in an interview with Adam Zubairaev, Chimaev responded to a question about whether security would need to step in to pry him off Strickland if he locked in a choke. The Borz clarified that he has no desire to kill anyone, as it is forbidden under Islamic law. He added, with a degree of dark humor, that while the rules of the cage would prevent such an outcome regardless, the street would be an entirely different matter. He was quick to remind listeners that this is a sport, not a street fight.
Chimaev, 32, carries a 15-1 record and enters the fight as the number-one ranked middleweight in the UFC and ranked tenth pound-for-pound. Representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center, the six-foot-two wrestler is one of the most statistically dominant grapplers in the division, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His striking accuracy sits at a remarkable 60 percent.
Standing across from him will be Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion. "Tarzan" is 35 years old, fights out of Xtreme Couture, and holds a 31-7 record. The six-foot-one American is among the most active strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute, and brings a 76-inch reach into the matchup.
Why it matters
- The middleweight title is directly on the line, with the top-ranked contender facing the champion
- Chimaev's elite takedown and submission output poses a serious stylistic threat to Strickland's pressure-based striking game
- The exchange highlights Chimaev's psychological confidence heading into the biggest fight of his career
