Following Sean Strickland's knockout victory over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston, his head coach Eric Nicksick believes Strickland has earned a middleweight title shot against champion Khamzat Chimaev. Nicksick praised Strickland's performance, noting he 'earned style points' by finishing Hernandez, who hadn't been stopped in his last eight fights. The victory has positioned Strickland as a potential next challenger, potentially bypassing Nassourd Imavov who was previously considered the frontrunner. Nicksick acknowledged the challenge of facing the undefeated Chimaev but expressed confidence in their preparation.
Sean Strickland's head coach Eric Nicksick is calling for a middleweight title shot after "Tarzan" delivered a knockout win over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston, arguing the finish earned Strickland a place at the front of the line to face champion Khamzat Chimaev.
Strickland, 35, carries a 31-7 record and holds the middleweight championship. The six-foot-one American out of Xtreme Couture is one of the division's most active strikers, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute. Nicksick pointed specifically to the manner of the victory as the key factor, noting that Hernandez had not been stopped in his previous eight fights, making the finish all the more noteworthy in the eyes of the coaching staff.
Hernandez, ranked third in the middleweight division at 15-3, had entered UFC Houston as a legitimate threat. The 32-year-old from MMA Gold Fight Team stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach and is a well-rounded competitor, averaging 5.88 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 60 percent. Getting him out of there was no small task.
Standing opposite any potential title shot is Chimaev, who sits atop the middleweight rankings at 15-1 and holds the belt. The six-foot-two fighter representing the UAE out of Allstars Training Center is ranked tenth pound-for-pound and brings a dangerous blend of wrestling and striking, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 4.04 significant strikes per minute. Nicksick acknowledged the difficulty of facing Chimaev while expressing belief in his team's ability to prepare.
Why it matters
- Strickland's finish could leapfrog Nassourdine Imavov, previously considered the frontrunner for the next title shot
- A potential rematch dynamic exists with Chimaev holding the belt Strickland once held
- The stylistic contrast between Strickland's high-volume striking and Chimaev's elite grappling sets up a compelling matchup question for the division
