Khamzat Chimaev fires back at ‘crybaby’ Sean Strickland with underhanded jibe before UFC 312
Khamzat Chimaev uses trauma as a weapon in a dig to Sean Strickland in the run-up to UFC 312 fight vs. Dricus Du Plessis.
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Khamzat Chimaev insults Sean Strickland before Dricus Du Plessis fight at UFC 312 (Source: IMAGO/X)
It’s Sean Strickland fight week. As usual, the pre-fight hype is in full swing. Strickland challenges Dricus Du Plessis in a rematch atop the UFC 312 PPV main card. However, since last time at UFC 297, “Tarzan” is in a more vulnerable spot and probably with more fire in his belly. Top contender Khamzat Chimaev takes up this moment to knock Tarzan out of the tree. The hunt begins!
Chechen “Borz” Khamzat Chimaev is on the verge of a crack at UFC 185-pound gold. He recently ran through Robert Whittaker with a Round-1 submission (face crank) – at the 3:34 mark that broke through the lower digits. After UFC 308, Chimaev yet again has his promise of gold. To this end, he takes up digging into Sean Strickland right before UFC 312.
Why are you baby crying all the time ?
Khamzat Chimaev via X (@KChimaev)
father didn’t give you love or he showed his love to you too much.
Once upon a time, these two had a cordial relationship. However, things have changed now. Strickland sparked fuel this fight week, lambasting Chimaev’s relationship with Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov. Now, Khamzat Chimaev takes a dig and weaponizes his past against him, for ‘crying’ all the time.
Before “Tarzan” went foul with his far-right brash opinions, he was different. Sean Strickland sported charming Goldilocks hair. Coupled with the fact Strickland’s childhood abuse is now a prime target. “Borz” thus pounces.
why are you baby crying all the time ?
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) February 5, 2025
father didn't give you love or he showed his love to you too much 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/JI2yIOvo5S
Nuanced tactic for a diss and warranting collective cringe? Or right on the spot? Dricus Du Plessis did break down Strickland similarly before their first fight. The same blueprint might work in favor of Khamzat Chimaev if Strickland is rocked to the core and is out of the play. For once though, UFC 312’s title challenger has given a somewhat civil insight to this low blow on his childhood trauma.
Sean Strickland responds to the scrutiny into his old self
Sean Strickland will challenge for the UFC 185-pound throne at UFC 312 this weekend. If he wins against Dricus Du Plessis, he’ll most likely face Chimaev for his first title defense in this new reign. Otherwise, the fight may not happen any time soon.
“Borz” and Strickland have trained before and have friction. Now, Chimaev included an old picture of a younger Strickland, a complete 180 from his current rugged, buzz-cut appearance. Strickland tore into this picture of his younger self in October 2024, remarking that he was “trying to hide from a life of hate and anger.”
You see a gay looking kid with long hair
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) October 12, 2024
You're actually seeing is a gay looking kid with long hair who was trying to hide from a life of hate and anger
Most of you cannot imagine the level of hate and anger I had in me growing up. Some of you know what it's like…. https://t.co/NI3OumMkhK
If Strickland loses, he’ll likely take on Nassourdine Imavov. The Frenchman knocked out a former champ at UFC Saudi Arabia. Or maybe Caio Borralho, who beat Jared Cannonier in August 2024 is also an option.
Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) is 7-3 since he returned to the division in October 2020. If he wins this weekend, he will become one of the very few champions who regained their title in the UFC. As such, it’d be a new chapter in a new reign, far off from that kid with that Goldilocks threads.
Related: What happened to Sean Strickland’s father? Explaining how Dricus Du Plessis won mental warfare
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