Khamzat Chimaev has released video footage of a sparring session between himself and Sean Strickland. The post indicates this was published through Chimaev's channels and directs viewers to alternative platforms for those unable to load the content. No additional context is provided about when the sparring took place or what the footage shows. The announcement is brief and the details are limited beyond confirming the existence of the sparring video.
Khamzat Chimaev shared video of a sparring session with middleweight champion Sean Strickland on May 6, posting the footage through his own channels and noting alternative viewing options for those unable to load it. No details were provided about when the session took place or what the footage captures beyond the two fighters working together.
Strickland, known as "Tarzan," holds the UFC middleweight title at 35 years old and carries a professional record of 31-7-0. The American fighter out of Xtreme Couture stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and has built his reputation on relentless volume striking, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy. He is one of the most active pressers in the division.
Chimaev, nicknamed "Borz," is the number-one ranked middleweight and sits tenth on the pound-for-pound list. The 32-year-old fighting out of the United Arab Emirates and training at Allstars Training Center holds a 15-1-0 record. At six-foot-two with a 191 cm reach, he is one of the most feared grapplers in the sport, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts in the same window. His striking accuracy of 60 percent is among the highest in the division.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the top-ranked middleweight contender, making any joint camp activity with the champion immediately relevant to divisional positioning
- The stylistic contrast is notable: Strickland's elite striking volume against Chimaev's dominant wrestling and high-accuracy striking
- Sparring between title contenders and champions can signal future matchmaking conversations, though no fight has been announced
