Sean Strickland revealed why he and Hamzat Chimaev buried their pre-fight animosity immediately following their UFC 328 bout. Strickland explained that after sharing such an intense battle, a level of respect develops between fighters that transcends race, religion, and nationality. He described the experience of nearly dying together in the octagon as creating a brotherhood between competitors. The commentary notes that Strickland received a genuine war from the opponent he least expected to give him one, highlighting the unexpectedly competitive nature of their championship encounter.
Sean Strickland opened up on May 10 about why he and Khamzat Chimaev set aside their long-running hostility in the immediate aftermath of their UFC 328 middleweight championship fight the previous evening.
Strickland, who carries a 31-7-0 record and holds the middleweight title at 35 years old, said the intensity of the bout itself dissolved whatever animosity existed before they entered the octagon. He described the experience of the two men nearly pushing each other to their limits as forging a kind of brotherhood, one that cuts through differences of race, religion, and nationality. For Strickland, that shared ordeal created a mutual respect that no pre-fight rivalry could outlast.
The American fighter, who trains out of Xtreme Couture and fights out of an orthodox stance with a 76-inch reach, is one of the busiest volume strikers in the division, averaging 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute. That relentless output has defined his championship run, yet by his own account Chimaev pushed him harder than he anticipated, delivering a genuine war when Strickland had not expected one at that level.
Why it matters
- Strickland publicly acknowledging Chimaev's competitiveness adds weight to the middleweight division's depth at the top
- The post-fight reconciliation reshapes the rivalry narrative heading into any potential rematch conversation
- Both fighters' ability to generate compelling, hard-fought title bouts raises the profile of the 185-pound championship
Saturday, May 9, 2026
