Khamzat Chimaev has shared footage of a sparring session with Sean Strickland on social media. The post indicates that video of the training session between the two fighters is now publicly available. No details were provided about when or where the sparring took place, or what the footage reveals about either fighter's preparation. The brief announcement simply confirms that Chimaev has published the sparring video for fans to view.
Khamzat Chimaev took to social media on May 6 to share footage of a sparring session with middleweight champion Sean Strickland, giving fans a rare look at two of the division's biggest names working together in the gym.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," enters the conversation as the number-one ranked middleweight and the tenth-ranked fighter pound-for-pound. The 32-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates carries a 15-1 record and trains out of Allstars Training Center. He is one of the more physically dominant grapplers in the division, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts in the same span. His striking accuracy sits at a remarkable 60 percent, among the highest in the sport.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, holds a 31-7 record and brings a very different profile to the matchup. The 35-year-old American, who fights out of Xtreme Couture, is one of the most active strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a six-foot-one frame and a 76-inch reach. Nicknamed "Tarzan," Strickland has built his reputation on relentless output and durability.
No details were provided about when or where the session took place, and the footage itself has not been described in any official capacity beyond its publication.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the top-ranked middleweight contender, making any shared training content a point of intense divisional interest
- The stylistic contrast is striking: Chimaev's elite grappling and 60 percent accuracy against Strickland's volume-heavy orthodox striking
- Public sparring footage between a champion and his top-ranked challenger is unusual and is likely to fuel speculation about their competitive relationship
