The brother of Khamzat Chimaev stated that Khamzat and Sean Strickland definitely did not become friends following their bout. He explained that Khamzat experienced his first career loss and had only seconds to decide how to handle it with dignity. While they were unhappy with the judges' decision, they chose not to protest publicly. The brother noted that Khamzat shook hands and moved on without making a scene. This suggests the rivalry between the two fighters remains intact despite the conclusion of their fight.
Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland did not walk away from their middleweight bout as friends, according to a statement from Chimaev's brother made public on May 12, 2026.
The brother addressed the aftermath of the fight directly, saying the two fighters "definitely" did not form any bond following the contest. He explained that Khamzat suffered the first loss of his professional career and had only moments to decide how to respond with dignity. Rather than protest the judges' decision publicly, Chimaev shook hands and moved on. The brother made clear the camp was unhappy with the outcome but chose to handle it quietly.
Khamzat Chimaev, 32, fighting out of the United Arab Emirates under the Allstars Training Center banner, entered the contest at 14-0 and ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound. The six-foot-two wrestler carries a 75-inch reach and posts a remarkable 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 60 percent striking accuracy, among the highest in the sport. That record now stands at 15-1-0.
Sean Strickland, 35, is the reigning middleweight champion representing the United States and Xtreme Couture. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, "Tarzan" outputs an aggressive 6.04 significant strikes per minute and holds a 31-7-0 professional record. His high-volume orthodox striking has defined his rise to the top of the 185-pound division.
Why it matters
- Chimaev absorbs his first professional loss, ending an unbeaten run that made him one of the sport's most anticipated title challengers
- The rivalry between the two fighters appears to be ongoing, with no post-fight goodwill reported from either side
- Strickland retains the middleweight title while Chimaev's path back to contention will draw significant attention given his number-one divisional ranking
