In a recent interview, UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland voiced doubts about Khamzat Chimaev's eligibility for a title shot. The champion's comments have stirred up the mixed martial arts community, adding another layer of intrigue to the ongoing debate surrounding Chimaev's rise.
Strickland Questions Chimaev's Title Shot
During a UFC Fight Pass interview on October 22, Strickland openly questioned Chimaev's qualification for a title shot. "For some reason, people either like him or don't like him. To me, he’s just a paycheck. He sells a lot of fights. People pay to watch, but he hasn’t truly earned it," Strickland said.
These remarks 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. Leading up to the event, UFC CEO Dana White had promoted this matchup as a title eliminator, a stance that Strickland disputes.
"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 added.
Strickland's Reign as Champion
Strickland clinched the middleweight belt with a surprising unanimous decision victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 last September, marking one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. As of now, the champion boasts a three-fight winning streak.
Chimaev’s Return to Middleweight
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.
Past Training Incident
Strickland recalled a past training incident where Chimaev misinterpreted something he said. "He sent me a message talking trash. 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," Strickland recounted.
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.”
With these recent developments, it's clear that the rivalry between these two fighters is heating up. As we await official announcements, the anticipation for a potential showdown between Strickland and Chimaev continues to build.