Chael Sonnen predicts Chimaev era begins if he defeats Strickland

Chael Sonnen believes a victory for Khamzat Chimaev over Sean Strickland will mark the beginning of a long period of dominance by the Chechen-born fighter. Sonnen recalled warning UFC about a "Russian invasion" back in 2012, predicting that bearded fighters from that region would claim all the belts. As a wrestler himself, Sonnen emphasized that the culture and toughness from that region represents a different level of competitiveness. He positioned Strickland as the last line of defense, suggesting that if Chimaev gets past him, it will be a long time before anyone can defeat Chimaev and end his reign.