Khamzat Chimaev hints at wanting Strickland rematch instead of light heavyweight move

Khamzat Chimaev appears to have walked back his plans to move to light heavyweight, instead signaling a desire for a rematch with Sean Strickland just days after suffering a split decision loss to the middleweight champion at UFC 328 on May 9.

Chimaev, 32, had previously indicated he was considering a jump to 205 pounds, but his recent social media activity suggests the Strickland defeat has not sat well with him. The Borz entered the fight at 14-0, ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth on the pound-for-pound list, carrying a striking accuracy of 60 percent and an imposing grappling game that averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. That loss to Strickland now marks the first blemish on his record, dropping him to 15-1.

Strickland, 35, retained his middleweight title with the split decision victory, improving to 31-7. Fighting out of Xtreme Couture, the American is a high-volume striker who lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach that gives him consistent range to work behind. His ability to absorb pressure and grind through difficult rounds has defined much of his champion tenure.

Why it matters

• A rematch would immediately headline a future pay-per-view, given Chimaev's status as the division's top-ranked contender.
• Chimaev's grappling advantage — 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes against Strickland's 0.71 — sets up a compelling style clash that a second fight would revisit.
• If the UFC steers Chimaev toward light heavyweight instead, the middleweight title picture becomes less clear with no obvious next challenger ranked ahead of the pack.
• The outcome of this decision could reshape two divisions simultaneously.