Chimaev addresses Strickland sparring video and rivalry ahead of fight

Khamzat Chimaev held a media day where he discussed posting old sparring footage with Sean Strickland, explaining he did so because Strickland claimed he only spars with weak opponents. Chimaev stated that when he increased intensity during their sparring session, Strickland immediately complained to the coach about him hitting too hard. When asked about Arman Tsarukyan's chances against Strickland if Tsarukyan moved up to middleweight, Chimaev confidently predicted Tsarukyan would win. Chimaev expressed frustration about fight frequency, stating he wants to compete every three months but has been held back by visa issues and UFC scheduling. He remained non-committal about potential weight class moves, saying he'll go where UFC pays him to fight.