Khamzat Chimaev messaged Sean Strickland indicating they will see each other again soon, suggesting he may have reconsidered his plans to move up in weight class. The message came after their recent fight and Chimaev's post-fight comments about changing weight divisions. The communication hints that Chimaev may pursue a rematch at middleweight rather than immediately transitioning to light heavyweight. The exact nature and tone of the exchange are described as including emojis suggesting a friendly but competitive intent.
Khamzat Chimaev has sent a direct message to Sean Strickland signaling that a second meeting between the two middleweights is coming, walking back indications that he was set to move up to light heavyweight following their recent bout.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," carries a 15-1-0 record and sits at number one in the middleweight rankings, placing him tenth on the pound-for-pound list. The 32-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center is one of the division's most dominant wrestlers, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a 60 percent accuracy clip. After the fight with Strickland he had publicly floated the idea of a weight class change, but his message to the champion suggests a rematch at 185 pounds may now be the priority.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, holds a 31-7-0 record and defends the throne at 35 years old. The American orthodox fighter out of Xtreme Couture stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and is one of the busiest strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. The nature of Chimaev's message, which reportedly included emojis conveying a friendly yet competitive tone, stops short of a formal callout but makes his intentions clear.
Why it matters
- A Chimaev-Strickland rematch would be an immediate middleweight title fight, given Chimaev's number-one ranking.
- Chimaev shelving a light heavyweight move keeps the 185-pound division's most dangerous contender in place.
- The style contrast — Chimaev's elite wrestling and striking accuracy against Strickland's relentless volume — makes a second fight one of the most compelling potential matchups in the division.
