Hamzat Chimaev insists his defeat to Sean Strickland was solely a judges' decision and maintains he was not outfought. Chimaev says he has been trying to secure a rematch but that Strickland has been making excuses, citing a shoulder injury. He is waiting for UFC brass to bring Strickland back into the cage.
Hamzat Chimaev has gone public with his frustration over his middleweight loss to Sean Strickland, disputing the outcome and calling for a second fight between the two.
Chimaev insists the defeat was purely a judges' decision and rejects the idea that he was outfought inside the cage. He says he has been actively pushing for a rematch but claims Strickland has been offering excuses, pointing to a shoulder injury as the reason he has not agreed to return. Chimaev says he is now waiting on UFC leadership to step in and make the fight happen.
Strickland, 35, holds the middleweight championship with a professional record of 31 wins and 7 losses. The American trains out of Xtreme Couture and is known for relentless forward pressure, averaging an exceptional 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute with a reach of 76 inches. He attempts 0.71 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him primarily a stand-up threat who keeps opponents honest on the feet throughout all five rounds.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's public callout puts direct pressure on UFC brass to broker a middleweight title rematch
- A shoulder injury cited by Strickland could affect his timeline and open the door for another contender to jump the queue
- The stylistic dispute over who genuinely controlled the first fight adds extra narrative weight to any potential second meeting in the 185-pound division
