UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland has cast doubt on Khamzat Chimaev's eligibility for a title shot. In an interview with UFC Fight Pass on October 22, Strickland made it clear that while he appreciates Chimaev's ability to sell fights, he does not believe the fighter has earned his spot in the championship ring.
Strickland's Dispute
"For some reason, people either like him or don't like him. To me, he's just a paycheck," Strickland expressed. He acknowledged that Chimaev draws crowds and boosts pay-per-view sales, but he adamantly believes that Chimaev hasn't proven himself worthy of a title shot. "He sells a lot of fights. People pay to watch, but he hasn't earned it."
Chimaev recently secured a majority decision victory over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. This fight was promoted by UFC CEO Dana White as a title eliminator, a stance that Strickland fiercely 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 said.
Strickland's Championship Reign
Strickland, who clinched the middleweight belt with a surprising unanimous decision victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 last September, is currently on a three-fight winning streak. His victory over Adesanya is considered one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
Chimaev’s Middleweight Return
Chimaev returned to the middleweight division at UFC 294, after previously competing at welterweight. He stepped into the ring on short notice to replace Paulo Costa, who had to withdraw due to an elbow injury and subsequent surgery. Prior to his bout with Usman, Chimaev hadn't fought in over a year. His last victory was against Kevin Holland in a 180-pound catchweight fight at UFC 279 in September 2022.
The fight between Chimaev and Usman, both renowned for their wrestling skills, ended with one judge scoring it a 28-28 draw, while the others leaned in favor of Chimaev with 29-28 scores.
Strickland's Discontent
Strickland also expressed disappointment with the UFC’s decision to grant his first title defense to fighters transitioning from welterweight. He had previously disapproved of the Chimaev-Usman bout when the Abu Dhabi schedules were announced, dismissing it as just a fight "to fill a seat."
Past Training Incident
Despite his criticisms, Strickland stated that he holds no fear towards facing Chimaev. He recalled a past training incident where Chimaev misinterpreted something he said, leading to a heated exchange. However, Chimaev did not show up for the proposed confrontation, and they eventually talked it out.
"Here’s the thing about Chimaev, the man can fight, we all know that. He beat Usman to a decision, but me and him are different. Chimaev could be right here, and I would fight that man to the death," Strickland declared.
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."
Chimaev is a Swedish professional mixed martial artist and freestyle wrestler who competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Strickland, on the other hand, is an American mixed martial artist and the current UFC Middleweight Champion.