Sean Strickland spent the day in Newport Beach, California, the location where Khamzat Chimaev is currently training. Throughout the day, Strickland posted Instagram stories tagging his exact locations, hoping to encounter Chimaev's team. Strickland referenced recent comments where Chimaev allegedly said he would try to kill Strickland on the street. Strickland stated he was only ten minutes from Chimaev's gym and that fighters training with Chimaev follow him on social media and would have seen his stories. He expressed disappointment that Chimaev did not show up, saying Strickland is the last person in America Chimaev should be calling out.
Sean Strickland spent part of his Saturday in Newport Beach, California, posting a series of Instagram stories tagging his precise locations throughout the day — all near the gym where middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev is currently based.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, carries a 31-7-0 record and trains out of Xtreme Couture. The 35-year-old American stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and is one of the division's most active strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. He made clear through his social media activity that the visit was deliberate, referencing comments in which Chimaev allegedly said he would try to kill Strickland on the street. Strickland noted he was only ten minutes from Chimaev's gym and that fighters in Chimaev's circle follow him on social media and would have seen every update in real time.
Chimaev, currently ranked number one in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, holds a 15-1-0 record and trains with Allstars Training Center. The 32-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates is listed at six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. He is best known for an overwhelming grappling game, averaging 5.29 takedowns per fifteen minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts in the same window, and posts a striking accuracy of 60 percent.
Strickland expressed clear disappointment that Chimaev's team never appeared, and said Strickland himself is the last person in America that Chimaev should be calling out publicly.
Why it matters
- Chimaev sits at number one in the middleweight rankings, making him the most logical next title challenger for Strickland.
- The public callout adds a personal edge to what is already a high-stakes divisional matchup on paper.
- Both fighters are orthodox middleweights, but their styles diverge sharply — Strickland's volume striking against Chimaev's elite wrestling and submission threat.
