Following his split decision loss at UFC 328, Khamzat Chimaev once again took to social media to address Sean Strickland. The post indicates this is not the first time Chimaev has directed comments toward Strickland through social platforms. The specific content of Chimaev's message was not detailed in the original post. This social media interaction comes in the immediate aftermath of their closely contested main event bout. The continued online engagement suggests the rivalry between the two fighters may persist despite the conclusion of their octagon meeting.
Khamzat Chimaev turned to social media in the days following his split decision defeat to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9, directing a public message at the middleweight champion in what appears to be a continuation of an ongoing online exchange between the two.
Strickland, known as "Tarzan," improved his record to 31-7-0 with the victory, retaining the middleweight title in a closely contested main event. The 35-year-old American, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, is a high-volume striker who lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute and carries a 76-inch reach that gives opponents persistent problems at range.
Chimaev, the No. 1 ranked middleweight contender and No. 10 pound-for-pound fighter, suffered just the second loss of his career, dropping to 15-1-0. The 32-year-old, who represents the United Arab Emirates and trains at Allstars Training Center, brought an elite grappling threat into the bout, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts in the same span. His striking accuracy of 60 percent also made him one of the most efficient fighters in the division heading into the fight.
The specific content of Chimaev's post was not detailed, though the report notes it was not his first time addressing Strickland through social platforms, suggesting a friction between the two that predates their octagon meeting.
Why it matters
- Strickland successfully defended the middleweight title against the division's top-ranked challenger, reinforcing his grip on the belt.
- The split decision result leaves room for debate over the outcome, which may fuel further exchanges between the two.
- Chimaev's continued social media engagement signals he has no intention of stepping away from the rivalry despite the loss.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
