Khamzat Chimaev continues to await a rematch against Sean Strickland, with no bout yet materializing. The anticipated second meeting between the two middleweights remains unscheduled.
Khamzat Chimaev is still waiting for his shot at Sean Strickland, with a rematch between the two middleweights remaining unscheduled as of mid-July 2026.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," carries a 15-1-0 record and holds the number-one ranking at middleweight, as well as a top-ten spot on the pound-for-pound list. The 32-year-old, who trains out of Allstars Training Center and competes under the United Arab Emirates flag, is one of the division's most physically imposing forces. He stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and brings a relentless grappling-based game, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts in the same span. His striking accuracy of 60 percent ranks among the elite in any weight class.
Across from him stands the reigning middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who carries a 31-7-0 record into this period. "Tarzan" is 35 years old, six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, and trains out of Xtreme Couture in the United States. Strickland is one of the most volume-heavy strikers in the sport, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy, making him a constant pressure problem for any opponent on the feet.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the division's top-ranked contender, giving this potential rematch immediate title implications
- The style matchup pits elite high-volume boxing against one of the most dangerous grapplers in the UFC
- With no date set, the middleweight title picture at 185 pounds remains unsettled
- A continued delay opens the door for other contenders to jump the queue ahead of Chimaev
