Strickland apologizes for pre-fight trash talk; Chimaev possibly prepared for 205

Sean Strickland apologized for going overboard during the promotional buildup to his fight with Hamzat Chimaev, though the post suggests the damage to Chimaev's aura cannot be undone. Despite Strickland's harsh words, Chimaev repeatedly extended his hand, smiled, and hugged his opponent, which would have appeared better had he dominated the fight rather than ending up under Strickland by round two. One theory suggests Chimaev was actually preparing for a light heavyweight debut but plans changed at the last moment, as his cardio lasting only one round seems inconsistent with the high-level sports science team guiding his preparation. The post also mentions that Joshua Van and Kai Asakura represent a generational rivalry similar to Moreno vs. Figueiredo, predicting they will eventually fight for the title. Additionally, Alexander Volkov is noted as receiving favorable judging in two consecutive close fights.