Hamzat Chimaev responded to Sean Strickland's recent comments by comparing him to a circus clown, questioning why he would be angry at entertainment. Chimaev stated that Strickland's friends approached him and Strickland immediately backed down, saying he was just promoting the fight. The Chechen fighter said he simply dislikes fake people. The post also mentions that Artem Vakhitov, the last person to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing, is helping Ciryl Gane prepare and believes Pereira will lose because he gained too much mass. Additionally, Jiri Prochazka responded to accusations from Ulgberg, Islam Makhachev confirmed he started preparing for his next fight, and Colby Covington complained about UFC's lack of interest in him.
Hamzat Chimaev has fired back at middleweight champion Sean Strickland, dismissing his trash talk as little more than a clown act from someone he considers fundamentally dishonest.
Chimaev compared Strickland to a circus performer, saying he has no reason to be angry at entertainment. The Chechen fighter went further, claiming that when Strickland's associates approached him directly, Strickland immediately softened his stance and admitted he was simply promoting a potential fight. Chimaev summed up his position plainly: he dislikes fake people.
Strickland, 35, currently holds the middleweight title and carries a 31-7-0 record. Fighting out of Xtreme Couture, "Tarzan" is one of the division's most active strikers, landing over six significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach. Whether a matchup between the two is formally in the works remains unclear from available information.
Why it matters
- Chimaev publicly undermining Strickland's credibility adds tension to an already heated potential middleweight collision
- Strickland's own account of the exchange, if true, raises questions about how seriously he is pursuing the matchup
- A Chimaev title challenge at middleweight would carry significant divisional implications given his ranking
Elsewhere in the social media roundup, light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka, ranked second at 185 pounds and holding a 32-6-1 record, responded to accusations from a fighter identified as Ulgberg, though the specifics of the dispute were not detailed. The Czech striker, six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, is one of the division's most dangerous finishers.
Welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, 34, confirmed he has begun preparations for his next outing. The Russian grappler holds a 28-1-0 record and averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him among the most dominant champions pound-for-pound in the sport.
Separately, Artem Vakhitov, the last man to beat Alex Pereira in kickboxing, has joined Ciryl Gane's camp and reportedly believes Pereira's added mass will work against him. Colby Covington also voiced frustration, claiming the UFC has shown little interest in booking him.
