Hamzat Chimaev has stated that he believes he only lost to Sean Strickland by judges' opinion and is pushing for a rematch. Chimaev says Strickland has been avoiding training, citing a shoulder issue, and that he is waiting for UFC brass to bring Strickland back to the cage.
Khamzat Chimaev is pushing for another shot at Sean Strickland, publicly disputing the judges' decision that handed the middleweight champion a victory in their recent bout and calling on UFC leadership to book the rematch.
Chimaev has made clear he does not accept the outcome as a definitive answer, framing the loss as a matter of scorecards rather than performance. He has also taken aim at Strickland's current activity level, claiming the champion has been staying out of the gym due to a shoulder problem and suggesting Strickland is in no hurry to return to competition.
Strickland, 35, holds a 31-7-0 professional record and currently sits atop the middleweight division as champion. Fighting out of Xtreme Couture, the American is known for relentless offensive output, averaging 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute at 42 percent accuracy. He carries a 76-inch reach on a six-foot-one frame and fights out of an orthodox stance, making him a technically demanding pressure fighter capable of controlling distance and volume across five rounds.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's public challenge puts direct pressure on the UFC to address the middleweight title picture sooner rather than later
- A reported shoulder issue for Strickland could delay any potential booking and open the door for other contenders to leapfrog the queue
- The stylistic matchup — Chimaev's wrestling-heavy aggression against Strickland's volume striking and durability — produced a contested result the first time, making a rematch a compelling divisional storyline
- How UFC matchmakers respond to Chimaev's demand will shape the near-term direction of the 185-pound title scene
