Chimaev posts his own version of Strickland fight poster

Khamzat Chimaev took the promotional campaign for his upcoming middleweight clash with Sean Strickland into his own hands this week, sharing a custom-made fight poster on social media ahead of their scheduled bout. The move appears to be the latest salvo in an increasingly charged buildup between the two fighters, who have both been active in trading barbs and promotional content online.

Chimaev, known as "Borz," enters the matchup as the number-one ranked middleweight and the tenth-ranked fighter pound-for-pound. The 30-year-old — now 32 and fighting out of the United Arab Emirates under the Allstars Training Center banner — carries a 15-1-0 record and has established himself as one of the division's most dangerous all-around threats. His numbers reflect a wrestling-heavy, high-pressure style, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing 60 percent of his significant strikes.

Standing across from him is the middleweight champion, Sean "Tarzan" Strickland. The 35-year-old American, who trains out of Xtreme Couture and holds a 31-7-0 record, is one of the most prolific volume strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute from an orthodox stance. At six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, Strickland has built his title reign on relentless forward pressure and a high-output striking game.

Why it matters

• The middleweight title is on the line, with the division's top-ranked contender challenging its reigning champion
• Chimaev's elite wrestling rate of 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes poses a direct stylistic problem for Strickland's striker-first approach
• The social media back-and-forth suggests both fighters are personally invested in the outcome, raising the event's profile heading into fight week