Khamzat Chimaev is pushing for a rematch against Sean Strickland, publicly telling the former middleweight champion not to avoid the fight. The callout signals Chimaev's intent to settle unfinished business with Strickland in a UFC title context.
Khamzat Chimaev has publicly called out middleweight champion Sean Strickland, demanding a rematch and telling the American fighter not to duck the contest. The callout, made ahead of July 2026, makes clear that Chimaev views unfinished business with Strickland as his primary objective in the division.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," carries a 15-1-0 record and sits as the number-one ranked middleweight in the UFC, also cracking the pound-for-pound top ten at number ten. The 32-year-old fighting out of the UAE and training at Allstars Training Center stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. His grappling output is among the most relentless in the division, averaging 5.29 takedowns per fifteen minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts in the same window. He also connects at a striking accuracy rate of 60 percent, one of the higher marks in the sport.
Strickland, nicknamed "Tarzan," is the reigning middleweight champion and holds a 31-7-0 record. The 35-year-old from the United States trains at Xtreme Couture and stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach. He is one of the higher-volume strikers in the 185-pound division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute, and fights out of an orthodox stance.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is ranked number one at middleweight, making him the division's most logical title challenger
- A rematch with Strickland would carry significant stakes, with the belt directly on the line
- The stylistic contrast is stark: Chimaev's elite wrestling and grappling volume against Strickland's high-output boxing and pressure fighting
- Strickland's response to the callout will shape the near-term direction of the middleweight title picture
