Former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier expressed strong conviction that the animosity between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland is completely authentic. Cormier stated he is confident there is no staged element to their conflict and that the fighters genuinely cannot stand each other. The post includes a poll asking fans whether they believe the rivalry is 100% genuine anger or contains elements of promotional performance. Details are limited regarding what specific comments or interactions led to Cormier's assessment.
Daniel Cormier has gone on record saying the bad blood between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland is the real thing, dismissing any suggestion that their feud has been manufactured for promotional purposes.
Cormier, who compiled a 22-3-0 professional record across two weight classes during his fighting career, stated he has no doubt the two middleweights genuinely cannot stand each other. The former double champion's assessment carries weight given his long tenure inside and around the sport.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, brings a 31-7-0 record and a relentless output game to any rivalry. The 35-year-old orthodox striker out of Xtreme Couture lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute and carries a 76-inch reach, making him one of the busiest volume fighters in the division.
On the other side, the number-one-ranked middleweight contender Chimaev enters the picture at 15-1-0 with a distinctly different profile. The 32-year-old fighting out of Allstars Training Center is a dominant grappler who averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and attempts 1.8 submissions in the same window. His 60 percent striking accuracy also ranks among the best in the weight class, and he currently sits tenth on the pound-for-pound rankings.
Why it matters
- A genuine rivalry between the top two middleweights raises the stakes of any eventual matchup beyond a standard title fight
- Strickland's high-volume striking versus Chimaev's elite wrestling presents a compelling style contrast
- The number-one contender and reigning champion occupying the same hostile space intensifies divisional pressure at 185 pounds
