Khamzat Chimaev calls out Sean Strickland!! One of the most anticipated rivalries in middleweight history went down in May with Sean Strickland pulling off a huge upset of then Champion Khamzat Chimaev. The fight however did not see the end of the feud. Strickland has been known to voice what he thinks on the mic and has given UFC fans some of the most memorable moments in press conferences. Recetnly Sean has been in a pay battle with the UFC and even says his heart is no longer in the sport and wants to dive into boxing. Chimaev now believes Strickland is ducking everyone in the division and is frustrated that the champion is not booked with him and all the top contenders on the sideline. Who's side are you on?
Khamzat Chimaev has called out Sean Strickland, accusing the middleweight champion of ducking the division's top contenders. The remarks, made on October 22, keep alive a rivalry that did not end when the two met in May.
Strickland beat Chimaev by split decision over five rounds at UFC 328 on May 9 to take the middleweight title in a major upset. Chimaev now argues that the champion is avoiding challengers and is frustrated that he and the rest of the top contenders remain on the sidelines without a booking.
Strickland, a 35-year-old from the United States, is 31-7 and holds the belt. The Xtreme Couture fighter has also won back to back, following a third-round TKO of Anthony Hernandez in February with the title victory. He lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy. The champion has been in a pay dispute with the UFC and has said his heart is no longer in the sport and that he wants to move into boxing.
Chimaev, 32, is 15-1 and ranked number one at middleweight and tenth on the pound-for-pound list. He represents the United Arab Emirates and trains at Allstars Training Center. The Strickland loss is the only defeat on his record. It came after a unanimous-decision title win over Dricus Du Plessis in August 2025 and a first-round submission of Robert Whittaker in October 2024.
Why it matters
- Chimaev lost the first meeting by split decision, so the rematch case rests on a narrow margin.
- The styles are far apart on paper: Chimaev averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes against Strickland's 0.71, and 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes against 0.2.
- Chimaev holds the accuracy edge, landing 60 percent of his strikes to Strickland's 42, though the champion throws at a higher volume.
- Strickland's boxing talk and pay dispute add uncertainty to any plan for the division's next title fight.
Physically, Strickland stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, while Chimaev is six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. Strickland is three years older.
