The brother of Khamzat Chimaev has stated that Khamzat and Sean Strickland did not become friends following their fight. He explained that Khamzat is experiencing his first loss and lacks experience in how to handle defeat. According to his brother, fighters have only a few seconds to decide how to accept a loss with dignity. While they were unhappy with the judges' decision, the team chose not to make a public fuss about it. Instead, Khamzat simply shook hands and moved on.
Days after UFC 328, Khamzat Chimaev's brother has spoken out to clarify the nature of the relationship between Khamzat and middleweight champion Sean Strickland following their fight on May 9 — stating plainly that the two are not friends.
Strickland, 35, retained his middleweight title and improved his record to 31-7-0 with the victory. The American fighter out of Xtreme Couture is known for one of the highest striking outputs in the division, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute and throwing with an orthodox stance from behind a six-foot-one frame and a 76-inch reach.
Chimaev, 32, suffered the first defeat of his professional career, dropping to 15-1-0. The Allstars Training Center product, ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, had been one of the most dominant forces in the sport heading into the contest. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he carries a 60 percent striking accuracy and an elite wrestling game that produces 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. This was uncharted territory for "Borz."
His brother addressed the post-fight handshake directly, explaining that Khamzat is navigating a first loss and is still learning how to process defeat. He noted that fighters have only seconds in the cage to decide how to carry themselves with dignity after a hard result. The team was privately unhappy with the judges' scorecards but chose not to air those grievances publicly. The handshake, his brother made clear, was a matter of professionalism — not the beginning of a friendship.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's first career loss ends an unbeaten run and reshapes the middleweight landscape
- The team's dissatisfaction with the judges' decision hints at a potential rematch conversation
- Chimaev remains ranked first at middleweight, keeping him firmly in the title picture despite the defeat
- The clarification matters for both fighters' public narratives heading into whatever comes next
Saturday, May 9, 2026
