Khamzat Chimaev posts sparring footage with Sean Strickland

Khamzat Chimaev shared sparring footage on social media featuring UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland, offering a glimpse of their preparation ahead of their scheduled matchup. No details about the timing or location of the session were provided alongside the post.

Strickland, 35, holds the middleweight title and carries a record of 31 wins and 7 losses. The American fighter out of Xtreme Couture stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and is one of the division's most active strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy. His grappling threat remains modest, averaging 0.71 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Chimaev enters the bout as the division's number-one contender and sits tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 32-year-old, representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center, owns a 15-1 record and stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. He is one of the sport's most dangerous wrestlers, averaging a remarkable 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, and pairs that with a 60 percent striking accuracy — a combination that makes him a multi-dimensional threat at 185 pounds.

Why it matters

• The middleweight title is on the line, with Chimaev making his case as the division's most credible challenger
• Chimaev's elite takedown volume of 5.29 per 15 minutes contrasts sharply with Strickland's modest takedown defense burden — grappling control could be central to the fight's outcome
• Both fighters are orthodox strikers, setting up a technical stand-up puzzle alongside Chimaev's persistent wrestling pressure
• Publicly released sparring footage between scheduled opponents is uncommon, adding an unusual layer of pre-fight narrative heading into the contest