Strickland's coach eyes Chimaev title shot if he beats Hernandez

Sean Strickland's coach Eric Nicksick believes a potential matchup between his fighter and current middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev would be a compelling title fight that fans would support. Nicksick stated that if Strickland can secure an impressive victory over No. 4-ranked Anthony Hernandez in the UFC Houston main event this weekend, it could position him back into title contention. The coach highlighted the stylistic intrigue of the matchup and noted the existing backstory between Strickland and Chimaev, who trained together previously. Strickland has been critical of Chimaev for several years and had previously declined a bout against him. The fight against Hernandez carries significant implications for the middleweight title picture.