Chael Sonnen believes a Sean Strickland defeat against Khamzat Chimaev would signal the beginning of a dominant Chimaev era in the UFC. Sonnen referenced his 2012 warning about a "Russian invasion" in MMA, predicting bearded fighters would claim all the belts. Drawing on his wrestling background, Sonnen described the cultural toughness of fighters from that region as being on another level. He characterized Strickland as the "last line of defense" for American dominance in the division. According to Sonnen, if Chimaev defeats Strickland, fans should prepare for a lengthy Chimaev championship reign, as he believes no one will be able to defeat the Chechen-born fighter for a considerable time.
