The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is no stranger to controversy, and the latest dispute centers around Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland and his potential challenger, Khamzat Chimaev. Strickland has publicly questioned the UFC's decision to consider Chimaev for a title shot, sparking a heated debate in the MMA community.
Strickland's Contentious Remarks
In a recent interview on UFC Fight Pass, Strickland voiced his skepticism about Chimaev's eligibility for a title shot. "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."
Chimaev recently secured a majority decision victory over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. Despite UFC CEO Dana White promoting this matchup as a title eliminator, Strickland disputes its validity.
"He hasn’t deserved it, but here we are. Give it to him. He sells a lot of fights. I’ll go fight him 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's Ascend to the Title
Strickland ascended to the middleweight throne after a surprising unanimous decision victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 last September. This win marked one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. Currently, the champion is on a three-fight winning streak, further solidifying his position in the division.
Chimaev's Return to Middleweight
Chimaev made his return to the middleweight division at UFC 294, having previously competed at welterweight. He stepped in on short notice to replace Paulo Costa, who had to withdraw due to an elbow injury. Prior to the bout with Usman, Chimaev had not fought in over a year. His last victory was via submission against Kevin Holland in a 180-pound catchweight fight at UFC 279 in September 2022.
Past Training Incident
Strickland and Chimaev have a history of disagreements, including a past training incident that Strickland referenced in his interview. "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. We talked it out, he said, ‘No, no, it’s okay, we talk about it,’" Strickland recounted.
In response to Strickland's remarks, Chimaev took to social media to fire back, saying, "You’re next, don’t worry. You know how quickly I can finish you."
As the tension between these two fighters continues to build, fans eagerly anticipate the potential showdown. Regardless of the controversy, one thing is clear: both athletes are formidable competitors ready to defend their respective positions in the UFC.