Khamzat Chimaev held a media day discussing his upcoming fight with Sean Strickland. He explained posting their sparring video because Strickland claimed he only spars weak opponents, stating it was light sparring and Strickland would complain to the coach when Chimaev increased intensity. Chimaev said Arman Tsarukyan would beat Strickland even now, and would definitely win if he moved up to welterweight. Regarding finishing Strickland quickly or making him suffer, Chimaev said he plans to just fight and see what happens with Allah's will. He expressed frustration about not fighting more frequently, saying he's ready to compete every three months but has had visa issues. On weight class changes, Chimaev said he's just a UFC worker and will move divisions if they pay him more.
Khamzat Chimaev faced the media ahead of his middleweight clash with champion Sean Strickland, using the session to address the rivalry between the two fighters and his broader frustrations with his fighting schedule.
Chimaev, 32, enters the fight at 15-1-0 and ranked first in the middleweight division, as well as tenth in the pound-for-pound standings. Fighting out of Allstars Training Center and representing the United Arab Emirates, the six-foot-two orthodox striker lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 60 percent accuracy, and adds a suffocating grappling dimension with 5.29 takedowns and 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Strickland, 35, holds the middleweight title with a record of 31-7-0 and brings elite striking volume to the cage, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach. The American, who trains at Xtreme Couture, has built his game around relentless forward pressure and durability.
Chimaev addressed the recently circulated sparring footage, explaining he posted the video in response to Strickland's claim that he only trains with weak opponents. He described the session as light sparring and said Strickland would go to the coach whenever he pushed the intensity higher. On fight strategy, Chimaev said he plans simply to fight and let results unfold according to Allah's will, stopping short of committing to a quick finish or a drawn-out effort.
He also weighed in on lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan, who carries a 23-3-0 record and ranks first at 155 pounds, saying Tsarukyan would beat Strickland now and would win even more convincingly if he moved up to welterweight.
Why it matters
- Chimaev enters as the top-ranked middleweight challenger against a reigning titleholder, making this a direct championship fight with clear divisional stakes.
- The public sparring footage has added a personal edge to the matchup, raising the profile of an already high-stakes contest.
- Chimaev cited ongoing visa difficulties as the reason for his inactivity, noting he is prepared to compete every three months and views himself as a UFC employee willing to move weight classes for the right compensation.
