Khamzat Chimaev has told the UFC he is ready and renewed his push for a rematch with Sean Strickland. The call-out marks his latest public effort to secure the grudge match.
Khamzat Chimaev has gone public with a renewed demand for a rematch against middleweight champion Sean Strickland, telling the UFC he is ready to fight and pushing hard to secure the grudge match.
Chimaev, 32, enters the conversation as the division's top-ranked contender and the number-ten fighter on the pound-for-pound charts. Fighting out of the UAE under the Allstars Training Center banner, the Borz carries a 15-1-0 record and brings some of the most suffocating grappling in the 185-pound division, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. His striking accuracy sits at a remarkable 60 percent, and he attempts nearly two submission holds per 15 minutes, making him a genuine threat everywhere inside the cage.
Standing in his way is Strickland, who holds the middleweight title at 31-7-0. The 35-year-old American from Xtreme Couture is one of the busiest strikers in the weight class, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach that helps him control range and volume from his orthodox stance. Chimaev and Strickland have history, and it is that history driving Chimaev's latest and most vocal push.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the division's number-one contender, making this a logical title fight on paper
- Strickland's high-volume striking versus Chimaev's elite grappling presents a sharp stylistic contrast
- A rematch carries personal stakes beyond the belt, adding an extra layer of intensity to any potential booking
