UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland has recently raised questions about Khamzat Chimaev's eligibility for a title shot. In an interview on UFC Fight Pass, Strickland candidly expressed his views on Chimaev's popularity and ability to sell fights.
Strickland's Stance on Chimaev
"For some reason, people either like him or they don't," said Strickland. "To me, he's just a paycheck. He sells a lot of fights. People pay to watch, but in my opinion, he hasn't earned it."
This statement 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 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 Rise to Championship
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. Currently, 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.
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.”
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 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 recalled.
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."