Chael Sonnen believes a Sean Strickland defeat against Khamzat Chimaev would signal the beginning of prolonged Chimaev dominance in the UFC. Sonnen recalled warning the UFC in 2012 about a "Russian invasion" of bearded fighters who would take all the belts, suggesting the only way to stop them was to prevent their opportunity. As a wrestler himself, Sonnen emphasized that the fighting culture from that region represents a different level of toughness and grit. He declared Strickland is "our last line of defense" and predicted that if Chimaev defeats him, fans should prepare for an extended Chimaev era. Sonnen stated it will be a long time before anyone can beat Chimaev if he gets past Strickland.
