Sean Strickland has confirmed that his conflict with Khamzat Chimaev was genuine but stated that the hatred between them has been left behind. Strickland acknowledged that they had just spent time trying to shorten each other's lives in the octagon. Despite the intense pre-fight buildup and the brutal nature of their contest, Strickland expressed that he wishes Chimaev the best. He also said he hopes Chimaev will dominate the light heavyweight division up to 93 kilograms, suggesting support for Chimaev's potential move up in weight. The comments indicate a post-fight reconciliation after months of heated rivalry.
