Khamzat Chimaev has messaged Sean Strickland stating that they will see each other again soon, suggesting he may have reconsidered moving up to light heavyweight. This communication came after their fight at UFC 328, which Strickland won by split decision. The post implies that Chimaev is now contemplating staying at middleweight for a potential rematch rather than moving to a higher weight class as previously discussed. The message indicates Chimaev's desire to avenge his loss. No official announcement about future plans has been made.
Khamzat Chimaev has sent a public message to Sean Strickland declaring they will see each other again soon, signaling that he may be shelving any plans to move up to light heavyweight in favor of pursuing a middleweight rematch. The message surfaced just one day after Strickland defeated Chimaev by split decision at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026.
Strickland, known as "Tarzan," retained his middleweight championship with the victory and now stands at 31-7-0. The 35-year-old American trains out of Xtreme Couture and has built his title reign on relentless output, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach that makes him difficult to pin down. He has defended the belt in the face of one of the division's most dangerous challengers.
Chimaev, nicknamed "Borz," drops to 15-1-0 with the loss — the only defeat of his professional career. The 32-year-old, who represents the United Arab Emirates and trains at Allstars Training Center, entered the fight as the division's number-one contender and sits at number ten in the pound-for-pound rankings. Standing six-foot-two with a 60 percent striking accuracy and an elite takedown rate of 5.29 per 15 minutes, he remains one of the most complete fighters in the division despite the setback.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's message suggests he is reconsidering a reported move to light heavyweight, keeping the middleweight title picture unsettled.
- A rematch between the champion and the number-one contender would carry immediate divisional stakes.
- Their contrasting styles — Strickland's high-volume striking versus Chimaev's smothering grappling — made for a competitive enough contest that a split decision result adds weight to Chimaev's desire to run it back.
- No official announcement from either camp or the UFC has been made regarding future matchmaking.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
