In the aftermath of UFC 293’s headline-grabbing showdown between Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya, the MMA community continues to buzz with admiration for the new middleweight champion, Sean “Tarzan” Strickland. Strickland, who defied the odds and critics alike, secured a dominant victory over Adesanya in the five-round battle that took place in Sydney, Australia, on September 9.
Amidst the growing applause for Strickland’s remarkable achievement, a surprising voice has joined the chorus of admiration. Khamzat Chimaev, the #4-ranked UFC welterweight contender, offered his thoughts on the newly crowned middleweight champion during episode two of his latest fight camp series on YouTube.
Chimaev, who had previously trained alongside Strickland at the renowned Xtreme Couture facility in Las Vegas, expressed his support and respect for the middleweight champ. “He works hard, deserves it,” Chimaev commented. “The guy is always in the gym. Now he’s got the belt. He has a good team, good coach. I have been there, trained with that guy. They deserve that belt. He has been active, fights with everybody.”
Despite his complimentary remarks, Chimaev did not shy away from revealing his own ambitions. He made it clear that he intends to challenge Strickland for the middleweight title. “Now it’s my time. Smash that guy (Costa). Doesn’t matter if it will be Izzy or Strickland or somebody else, we coming for them,” Chimaev declared. “Strickland! Coming for him. If you stay there, man, I’m coming for you.”
Interestingly, despite rising to contention in the welterweight division, Chimaev is temporarily shifting his focus to middleweight gold. His next bout will see him face former title challenger and ranked 185-pound contender Paulo Costa at UFC 294, following a weight miss in his last appearance.
While there is competition for the opportunity to challenge Strickland, including fighters like Dricus Du Plessis, some experts, like Chael Sonnen, speculate that Chimaev or “Borrachinha” (Paulo Costa) could earn the title shot if they deliver an impressive performance in Abu Dhabi.
As the MMA world continues to evolve, the story of Khamzat Chimaev’s determination to challenge Sean Strickland adds an intriguing layer to the narrative of the UFC’s middleweight division.
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) August 22, 2023
