TLDR
- Khamzat Chimaev confirmed he is not injured and wants Sean Strickland as his first title defense opponent
- Chimaev won the middleweight title over six months ago by defeating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319
- The champion is passing over top contender Nassourdine Imavov, reportedly due to their shared Russian ethnic ties
- Strickland responded positively to the callout with an American flag and fist emoji on social media
- The two fighters have an existing rivalry stemming from past sparring sessions where both claim victory
Sources: MMA Mania | Sherdog | MMA Junkie | Bloody Elbow
UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev has confirmed he is healthy and wants Sean Strickland as his first title defense opponent. The announcement came through social media posts where Chimaev dismissed injury concerns and made his preference clear.
When a fan asked if he was injured, Chimaev responded directly on X, stating “No I [am] waiting for [Sean Strickland].” The champion’s message ended speculation about his health status and his next opponent.
Strickland quickly replied with an American flag and fist emoji, signaling his interest in the matchup. The exchange between the two fighters has set the stage for what could be a high-profile title clash.
Six Months Since Winning the Belt
Chimaev captured the middleweight championship by defeating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 over six months ago. An injury after that fight prevented him from making a quick return to the octagon, creating uncertainty about his fighting future.
Questions had swirled about whether Chimaev might move up to light heavyweight without defending his middleweight title. However, the recent announcement of Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg for the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 327 suggests Chimaev will stay at 185 pounds for now.
Nassourdine Imavov has been widely considered the rightful number one contender for the middleweight title. However, Chimaev has shown little interest in facing Imavov, reportedly due to their shared Russian ethnic ties.
History Between Chimaev and Strickland
The two fighters have an existing rivalry that dates back to past sparring sessions. Chimaev claims he submitted Strickland during training, which he says is the source of Strickland’s animosity toward him.
Strickland disputes this version of events, saying he was only submitted during situational grappling and that he made Chimaev quit training. The former champion has also criticized Chimaev for inactivity in the past.
Strickland earned a convincing win over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston last month. The victory improved his position as a top contender in the middleweight division.
Before addressing the Strickland fight, Chimaev also posted about wanting a wrestling match against Colby Covington at an upcoming RAF event. He wrote, “Next RAF I will make American boy humble again colbiclown let’s go.”
There has been speculation that the Chimaev-Strickland fight could take place at a special UFC event at the White House. Chimaev previously expressed doubt that a Russian fighter would be welcome at such an event, while Strickland once said he didn’t want to fight in front of “the Epstein list.”
UFC CEO Dana White has been teasing several high-profile title fights in recent weeks. The Chimaev vs. Strickland matchup could be one of those fights given the star power and existing tension between both fighters.
Imavov has publicly stated he has “hate in his heart” for Strickland and warned he would “leave him dead in the cage.” Despite this, Chimaev appears set on facing Strickland rather than the French-Russian contender.
No official date or venue has been announced for the potential Chimaev vs. Strickland title fight. Both fighters have now expressed interest in the matchup through their social media exchanges.
