Chael Sonnen predicts Chimaev era will begin if he defeats Strickland

Chael Sonnen stated that Sean Strickland's potential defeat against Khamzat Chimaev would mark the beginning of Chimaev's era of 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 emphasized that the culture from that region represents a different level of toughness and grit. He described Strickland as "our last line of defense" against this wave. Sonnen concluded that if Chimaev gets past Strickland, fans should prepare for a Chimaev era, as defeating him would take a very long time.