Sean Strickland explained why he and Hamzat Chimaev buried the hatchet after their fight at UFC 328. Strickland stated that after such a battle, a level of respect develops between fighters that transcends race, religion, and nationality. He described the experience as nearly dying together in the octagon, which creates a bond almost like brotherhood. The post notes that Strickland received a genuine war from someone he least expected. Strickland's comments reflect a significant shift in his relationship with Chimaev following their intense contest.
Sean Strickland opened up on May 10 about the surprising mutual respect that developed between himself and Khamzat Chimaev in the wake of their middleweight clash at UFC 328 the previous night.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, said the shared experience of an all-out war inside the octagon forges a bond that rises above differences in race, religion, and nationality. He described it as something close to brotherhood, framing the fight as the two men nearly dying together in the cage. He also acknowledged that Chimaev delivered a genuine war he had not anticipated at that level.
The 35-year-old American out of Xtreme Couture carries a record of 31-7-0 and brings one of the most relentless pressure games in the division. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, Strickland lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute and works at a pace few middleweights can sustain, posting a striking accuracy of 42 percent across his career.
Why it matters
- Strickland's comments signal a notable thaw in what had been a contentious rivalry heading into UFC 328.
- The champion publicly crediting Chimaev as a tougher opponent than expected raises the Chechen contender's profile in the division.
- The tone of mutual respect after a title-level fight often shapes how rematches or divisional pecking orders are discussed going forward.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
