Khamzat Chimaev has published video footage of himself sparring with Sean Strickland. The video was shared on social media, though specific details about when the sparring session took place or the context behind it were not provided in the announcement. The footage appears to show the two UFC middleweights training together. This is notable given both fighters' positions in the middleweight division and their distinctive fighting styles. The post indicates the video is available on alternative platforms for those who cannot access the original link.
Khamzat Chimaev posted video footage on social media showing him sparring alongside Sean Strickland, giving fans a rare look at two of the UFC middleweight division's most prominent figures training together. No details about when the session took place or what prompted it were included alongside the post.
Strickland, known as "Tarzan," is the reigning UFC middleweight champion. The 35-year-old American, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, carries a 31-7-0 professional record. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, he is one of the most prolific volume strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy.
Chimaev, nicknamed "Borz," is currently ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth on the pound-for-pound list. The 30-year-old — now 32 — 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 75-inch reach, he blends his striking — landing 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a sharp 60 percent accuracy — with an elite grappling game that produces 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the division's top-ranked contender, making any interaction between the two men a direct title-picture storyline
- Their contrasting styles — Strickland's high-volume boxing versus Chimaev's pressure-heavy wrestling and finishing ability — make the sparring pairing a genuinely intriguing stylistic test
- The footage surfaces the question of whether the two camps are simply training partners or whether a future matchup is being discussed, though nothing official has been announced
