Khamzat Chimaev Reacts to Rumor of Sean Strickland Defending Title in December Against Another Opponent

Sean Strickland is not expected rematch Khamzat Chimaev this year as rumors suggest another top contender will get the next title shot.

Khamzat Chimaev Reacts to Rumor of Sean Strickland Defending Title in December Against Another Opponent

Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland (Image via Bleacher Report)

Khamzat Chimaev lost the middleweight title and his undefeated status this year at UFC 328. Sean Strickland outlasted the Chechen phenom over five rounds to secure victory. Since then, Chimaev has called out the new champion to a title rematch.

Chimaev vs Strickland garnered millions of views on social media and reportedly reached 8.4 million views on Paramount+. As such, the rematch will probably do huge numbers. However, Nassourdine Imavov waits in the wings for a title fight after having a five-fight winning streak.

If the UFC proceeds with Strickland vs Imavov, Chimaev will have to fight someone else for the time being or wait for his opportunity. When asked about the rumored title fight for December, Chimaev admitted that Imavov deserved the title shot.

There’s no surprise. How long has Imavov been waiting now? Probably around two years. He’s already the contender. Whoever wins, we’ll take him.

Khamzat Chimaev said

Initially, the Chechen phenom wanted to move to the light heavyweight division after losing to Strickland at UFC 328. Soon, he changed his mind and wanted to stay at middleweight to seek a rematch against the new champion.

Dana White has come out and said that booking a rematch between Strickland and Chimaev will depend on the fans. The hesitation to book the rematch comes from the fact that Chimaev never defended his title before losing it.

In the past, champions who loses their belt get an immediate rematch depending on how much title defenses they have. Alexander Volkanovski, Kamaru Usman, and Israel Adesanya got a title shot after losing their belt due to their long title reigns.

Strickland entered the UFC 328 matchup with a busted shoulder and admitted that he may not compete in 2026 again. However, the recovery has gone well since he was spotted sparring Anthony ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez in the gym.

All signs point to Strickland defending the title against Imavov in December. With that, Chimaev might need another opponent to keep himself occupied. He is actively competing in wrestling bouts this year.

The Chechen has been doing media rounds recently to promote his upcoming RAF Moscow wrestling bout against Tyron Woodley.

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Khamzat Chimaev talks about his mentality after dealing with loss to Sean Strickland

Khamzat Chimaev losing his undefeated status was the first major upset of 2026. The Chechen superstar expected to finish Strickland at UFC 328. However, Strickland was no pushover. The American superstar used his defensive grappling skills to keep the fight standing and secure a split-decision win.

Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328
Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 (Image via Bleacher Report)

Soon after UFC 328, Chimaev’s team brought up the issue of weight cutting as a reason for the loss. Teammate Arman Tsarukyan came out and revealed that ‘Borz’ cut as much as 45 pounds to make weight.

Fans didn’t like the excuses given to take credit away from Strickland who fought with a busted shoulder. Since then, Chimaev has spoken candidly about the loss and revealed that he’s not given up.

I don’t consider myself a loser. When you don’t give up, you don’t lose. I’ve been training every day since I was five years old. I provide for my family, and I’m happy to earn money—whether it’s by beating someone up or taking someone down… Even tomorrow. I’m waiting. I’m waiting for it even more than you are.

Khamzat Chimaev told the media ahead of RAF Moscow

The middleweight division has rising contenders like Gregory Rodrigues and Joe Pyfer waiting in the wings. Veteran names like Caio Borralho and Dricus Du Plessis have received a callout from Chimaev.

Chimaev’s next fight will all depend on who the UFC can find to fight him. At the moment, Chimaev may not compete in the UFC again till 2027 due to the lack of a big name for ‘Borz’ to fight.

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