Khamzat Chimaev wrote to Sean Strickland that they will see each other again soon, suggesting he may have changed his mind about moving up in weight. This message came after Chimaev lost to Strickland at UFC 328. The statement indicates Chimaev may be interested in a rematch at middleweight rather than proceeding with a previously discussed move to light heavyweight. Details about the context and timing of this communication are limited in the post.
Khamzat Chimaev has sent a public message to Sean Strickland in the wake of their UFC 328 clash on May 9, telling the middleweight champion they will see each other again soon — a signal that the Borz may be pivoting away from a previously discussed move to light heavyweight and toward a rematch instead.
Strickland, 35, retained his middleweight title with the victory, improving his record to 31-7-0. The American, who fights out of Xtreme Couture, stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and is one of the division's most active pressure strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. The champion's Orthodox stance and relentless forward pace have defined his reign at 185 pounds.
Chimaev, now 15-1-0, suffers just the second defeat of his professional career. The UAE-based Swede, fighting out of Allstars Training Center, carries a remarkable 60 percent striking accuracy and averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes — among the most suffocating wrestling outputs in the entire sport. Ranked number one in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, the 32-year-old had been linked to a potential move up to light heavyweight before this result complicated that trajectory.
His message to Strickland, posted after the fight, stops short of a formal rematch call but strongly implies he has unfinished business at 185 pounds.
Why it matters
- Strickland's title defense reinforces his grip on the middleweight division's top spot after defeating the number-one-ranked contender
- Chimaev's message suggests a light heavyweight move may be shelved, keeping the division's most dangerous wrestling threat at 185 pounds
- A potential rematch would pit Chimaev's elite grappling volume against Strickland's high-output striking — a stylistic collision with clear championship stakes
Saturday, May 9, 2026
