Khamzat Chimaev has messaged Sean Strickland saying they will see each other again soon, suggesting he may have changed his mind about moving up in weight. The comment was made following Chimaev's loss to Strickland at UFC 328. This statement contradicts earlier reports that Chimaev planned to move to light heavyweight after the fight. The brief message hints at a potential rematch between the two middleweights. Details about the timing or context of any future bout remain unspecified.
A day after suffering the first loss of his professional career at UFC 328, Khamzat Chimaev reached out to Sean Strickland with a pointed message: they would be seeing each other again soon. The comment, made following their middleweight clash on May 9, 2026, signals that "Borz" may be abandoning plans to move up to light heavyweight and instead has his eyes set on a rematch.
Chimaev, 32, entered the fight as the number-one ranked middleweight contender and the number-10 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. Representing the UAE and training out of Allstars Training Center, the 188-centimeter, Orthodox fighter carried a spotless 15-0 record into UFC 328 before absorbing that first blemish. His numbers have long made him one of the most feared fighters in the division, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at 60 percent accuracy.
On the other side, Strickland successfully defended the middleweight title against a stiff test. The 35-year-old American, known as "Tarzan," trains out of Xtreme Couture and holds a 31-7-0 record. Standing 185 centimeters tall with a 193-centimeter reach, Strickland is one of the busiest strikers in the sport, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's message directly contradicts earlier reports that he intended to move to light heavyweight after facing Strickland, keeping him relevant in the middleweight title picture.
- A rematch between the top contender and the reigning champion would be among the biggest middleweight bouts the UFC could book.
- The stylistic contrast — Chimaev's elite grappling output against Strickland's relentless forward pressure and volume striking — gives a second fight immediate competitive intrigue.
No official timeline or confirmed negotiations for a rematch have been announced, and the specifics of Chimaev's social message offer no further detail on when or where the two could meet again.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
