Daniel Cormier Warns Khamzat Chimaev That Sean Strickland Fight Won’t Be ‘Cake Walk’ 

UFC veteran Daniel Cormier talks about Sean Strickland potentially fighting Khamzat Chimaev for the middleweight title.

Daniel Cormier Warns Khamzat Chimaev That Sean Strickland Fight Won’t Be ‘Cake Walk’ 

Daniel Cormier comments on Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland (via X)

In Short
  • Sean Strickland secured a dominant third-round TKO victory over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston.
  • Daniel Cormier warns that Khamzat Chimaev may face challenges against the version of Strickland that fought at UFC Houston.
  • Dana White emphasizes that Chimaev should defend his middleweight title before considering a move up in weight class.

At UFC Houston, Sean Strickland delivered a statement performance against Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez in the main event. Strickland showcased relentless pressure and sharp striking combinations to ultimately secure a dominant third-round TKO victory. Immediately after the referee waved off the contest, Strickland boldly called out the current middleweight champion, Khamzat Chimaev.

While many fans believe Chimaev would dominate such a matchup decisively, veteran analyst Daniel Cormier disagrees with that widespread assumption. Chimaev is well known for his wrestling and suffocates his opponents from start to finish, as he did against Dricus Du Plessis. However, according to DC, Strickland’s performance at UFC Houston was a sign that he could survive against the ‘Borz.’ 

If that guy that showed up tonight shows up in that [Khamzat] fight, it would be a much more difficult fight for the great Khamzat Chimaev, because even Israel Adesanya at the peak of his power struggled with that version of Sean Strickland. In the Dricus Du Plessis fight, it didn’t seem like Sean was locked all the way in; he seemed a little messed up.

Daniel Cormier via his YouTube channel 

Cormier explained that Strickland’s durability, volume striking, and championship experience could create serious problems for the undefeated middleweight titleholder. According to the American middleweight, he has the greatest chance of defeating Chimaev given his wrestling background and takedown defense. He believes the middleweight belt should be earned by an American, possibly at the White House event.

Beyond the fight buildup, Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev share a long-standing rivalry that has intensified recently. After UFC Houston, Chimaev claimed he once choked out Strickland during training sessions at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. 

Strickland fired back, insisting he allowed the choke to happen in a transition grappling drill session and accused Chimaev of being a bully in the gym. Chimaev quickly dismissed those claims, branding Strickland a liar and further fueling anticipation for their potential title clash among fans. 

Dana White shuts down Khamzat Chimaev’s plans to move up 

Since winning the UFC middleweight championship by defeating Dricus Du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev has been vocal about moving up. The Chechen fighter has called out the current light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, several times. According to ‘Borz’, his wrestling and strength would be enough to beat the Brazilian, who’s yet to be tested against a wrestling specialist.

Dana White shuts down Alex Pereira vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Dana White shuts down Alex Pereira vs. Khamzat Chimaev (via X)

However, Pereira has never responded to Chimaev’s call-out and is focused on getting a heavyweight bout against Jon Jones. According to Dana White, they are working with Pereira and will be ready for anything that the Brazilian fighter asks going forward.

Chimaev has tried everything, including online taunts to get a reaction from ‘Poatan,’ but nothing has worked. When asked about this to Dana White, the CEO mentioned that he doesn’t think Chimaev should move up now. 

I’d like to see him defend his title at a weight first. I’d like to see him defend his title before he talks about jumping around. You’re going to keep going up in weight divisions without defending? I’d rather see him defend.

Dana White via UFC Houston post-fight presser 

Dana White also addressed the controversy surrounding Sean Strickland and his inflammatory remarks during the pre-fight press conference before UFC Houston. White criticized members of the media, arguing they deliberately asked provocative questions designed to spark outrage and generate headlines.

Despite this, the middleweight landscape appears dramatically altered after Houston, especially with contender Nassourdine Imavov waiting patiently. Strickland acknowledged Imavov’s position and stated that if he captured the championship, he would gladly fight the French fighter next.

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