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The new UFC middleweight champion, Sean Strickland, does not approve Khamzat Chimaev as the next title challenger. However, Dana White confirmed that the winner of Chimaev vs Usman will be next for the middleweight title fight.
Strickland was not impressed by Chimaev’s performance against Kamaru Usman.Well, it looks like @SStricklandMMA is ready for a matchup with Khamzat! #UFC294
Didn’t hold back and we wouldn’t expect him to. #ExtraRounds from the @PBR Teams Championship. pic.twitter.com/uuQPRVkOzD — UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) October 22, 2023
Strickland believes Chimaev hasn’t earned his opportunity yet; it’s quite shocking for him to say such a thing. Khamzat Chimaev is ready to fight Sean Strickland; Chimaev believes he can easily finish Strickland.
It will be fascinating to see if the middleweight division can have a new champion.
Sean Strickland on Khamzat Chimaev
Recently, on UFC Fight Pass, Sean Strickland explained why he thinks Khamzat Chimaev isn’t worthy enough to fight for the middleweight belt.
“The only thing I like about Chimaev is that he sells fights,” Strickland said, as quoted by mmajunkie.usatoday.com. “For some reason, people ****** like him or don’t like him. I don’t know. To me, he’s a ******* paycheck.
He sells a lot of fights. People pay to watch, but he ****** hasn’t earned it”. Strickland further explained: “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”. Kamaru Usman may have lost the match against Chimaev, but he deserves a lot of respect for showing up on 10 days notice.
Perhaps in the future, he can have a rematch with Chimaev to avenge the bitter loss.Sean Strickland could make his first title defense anytime in the first quarter of 2024, and it is most likely going to be against Khamzat Chimaev.