Chael Sonnen believes that if Khamzat Chimaev defeats Sean Strickland, it will mark the beginning of an era of Chimaev's dominance in the UFC. Sonnen recalled warning the UFC about a "Russian invasion" back in 2012, predicting that bearded fighters would come and take all the belts. As a wrestler himself, Sonnen stated that the wrestling culture from that region represents a different level of toughness. He considers Strickland the last line of defense, and if Chimaev gets past him, the UFC should prepare for the "Chimaev era" because defeating him will not happen anytime soon.
