Chael Sonnen believes that if Khamzat Chimaev defeats Sean Strickland, it will mark the beginning of Chimaev's era of dominance in the UFC. Sonnen recalled warning the UFC in 2012 about a 'Russian invasion' of bearded fighters who would come and take all the belts. As a wrestler himself, Sonnen says their culture represents a different level of toughness and grit. He describes Strickland as 'our last line of defense' and predicts that if Chimaev gets past him, the UFC should prepare for the Chimaev era, as it will be a very long time before anyone can defeat him.
