In the high-stakes world of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), words outside the octagon can be as sharp as the blows inside it. UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has recently expressed his skepticism about Khamzat Chimaev's eligibility for a title shot.
Strickland Questions Chimaev's Eligibility
In an interview on UFC Fight Pass on October 22, Strickland, also known as "Tarzan," voiced his thoughts on Chimaev. While acknowledging that Chimaev has a knack for selling fights, he questioned whether the fighter truly deserves a shot at the title. "For some reason, people either like him or don’t," Strickland said. "To me, he’s just a paycheck. He sells a lot of fights. People pay to watch, but he hasn't earned it."
Strickland's comments came after Chimaev secured a majority decision victory over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the co-main event of UFC 294 last Saturday in Abu Dhabi. UFC CEO Dana White had previously promoted this matchup as a title eliminator, a stance that Strickland disputes.
Strickland's Stance on Chimaev's Victory
"He hasn't deserved it, but here we are. Give it to him. He sells a lot of fights. I’ll go fight the man for five rounds. But no, he’s not earned it. He doesn’t deserve it. Getting a decision with a welterweight off the couch is not earning it," Strickland argued.
Strickland clinched the middleweight belt with a surprising unanimous decision victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 last September, one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. The champion is currently on a three-fight winning streak.
Chimaev’s Middleweight Return
Chimaev made his middleweight return at UFC 294, having previously competed at welterweight. On short notice, Usman ventured into middleweight to replace Paulo Costa, who had to withdraw from the event due to an elbow injury and subsequent surgery.
Prior to the bout with Usman, “Borz” had not fought in over a year. He claimed his last victory via submission against Kevin Holland in a 180-pound catchweight fight at UFC 279 in September 2022.
Both Chimaev and “The Nigerian Nightmare” are renowned for their wrestling skills, and many expected that Chimaev would have the size advantage on fight night. The fight ended with one judge scoring it a 28-28 draw, while the others leaned in favor of Chimaev with 29-28 scores.
Strickland's Disappointment With UFC’s Choice
Strickland also expressed his disappointment with the UFC’s choice to grant his first title defense to fighters transitioning from welterweight. He previously disapproved of the Chimaev-Usman bout when the Abu Dhabi schedules were announced, saying it was just a fight “to fill a seat.”
A Past Training Incident
Strickland said he had no fear of facing Chimaev. He referenced a past training incident where Khamzat misinterpreted something he said. "He sent me a message talking sh*t. And I said, ‘Chimaev, you misunderstood. But, I will see you tomorrow at 3 o’clock, gloves or no gloves, come turn up. And then guess what? No show. No answer. We talked it out, he said, ‘No, no, it’s okay, we talk about it,’" Strickland recounted.
Despite these comments, Strickland acknowledged Chimaev's fighting skills. "Here’s the thing about Chimaev, the man can fight, we all know that. He beat Usman to a decision, Usman old and retiring, but whatever, he’s still good. But, me and him are different. Chimaev could be right here, and I would fight that man to the death right here," he stated.
In response to Strickland’s remarks, Chimaev took to social media to respond, saying, “You’re next, don’t worry. You know how quickly I can finish you.”
As the verbal sparring continues outside the octagon, fans are left in anticipation of what will transpire when these two fighters eventually meet inside it.