Sean Strickland Blames Khamzat Chimaev for Stalling Entire Middleweight Division

Controversial middleweight Sean Strickland calls out Khamzat Chimaev for not competing or defending the title.

Sean Strickland Blames Khamzat Chimaev for Stalling Entire Middleweight Division

Sean Strickland calls out Khamzat Chimaev (via Yahoo Sports)

In Short
  • Sean Strickland accuses Khamzat Chimaev of stalling the middleweight division due to his inactivity and injuries.
  • Chimaev plans to return to competition only after Ramadan ends in March 2026, leaving contenders in limbo.
  • Strickland is preparing for a fight against Anthony Hernandez on February 21, aiming to reclaim his title shot.

Sean Strickland is known for his controversial persona and relentless trash talk, which often dominates headlines. As a former middleweight champion, he is carefully plotting a path back to reclaim the title. Recently, Strickland directly called out current middleweight kingpin Khamzat Chimaev. He criticized the Chechen superstar for stalling the division while remaining sidelined due to injury and inactivity.

Chimaev captured the middleweight belt at UFC 319 with a dominant unanimous decision over Dricus Du Plessis. He was widely expected to defend the title multiple times in 2026, but an injury unfortunately forced him to step away from active competition. Chimaev later confirmed he plans to return only after Ramadan ends in March 2026, leaving other contenders waiting for a clear path to the belt.

Strickland last fought in the UFC at UFC 312, where he lost his middleweight title fight against Du Plessis via unanimous decision. He is now set to return with an upcoming fight against Anthony ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez on February 21 at UFC Houston. While in camp preparing for this bout, the controversial middlewight called out Chimaev, criticizing him for stalling the division with his prolonged inactivity.

You brought a guy in that fights once a year… he’s just gonna sit on that f***ing belt and wait until they force him to fight. You would make more money not fighting for the belt than you would fighting for the belt. The belt is not even in my brain anymore. I’ll make significantly more money just fighting. Every time this f***ing guy fights he has a mysterious injury.

Sean Strickland via ESPNMMA

Strickland was one of the first fighters to call out the Chechen superstar after his UFC 319 title victory. At the time, he believed he was the only contender in the 185-pound division with the skillset to overcome Chimaev’s dominant wrestling and suffocating grappling. However, ‘Tarzan’ was sidelined due to a suspension from an altercation at a local MMA event, keeping him out of competition for several months.

The relationship between Chimaev and Strickland was not always sour. The two previously trained together and often showed mutual respect for each other’s skills. Their friendship began to deteriorate after Strickland publicly criticized Chimaev’s ties with Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov. Since then, tensions have grown, with Strickland and Chimaev being at each others throats through online rivalries.

Injuries have been a recurring part of Khamzat Chimaev’s career, including the layoff after UFC 319, a hand injury in 2025, and a knee issue that delayed his 2024 return. These setbacks have limited his appearances and slowed the division’s momentum. Sean Strickland’s comments highlight contender frustration. They emphasize that the middleweight division remains stalled while the champion recovers.

Sean Strickland gets candid on retirement plans

Sean Strickland has built a notable UFC career, facing top middleweight contenders like Paulo Costa and Nassourdine Imavov. One of the major highlights of his career undoubtedly remains his title win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 293. Over the years, he has developed a reputation for toughness and his intense spars. His career highlights include several high-profile victories that cemented his status among the division’s elite.

Sean Strickland
Sean Strickland (via MMA Fighting)

At 34, Strickland is undoubtedly in the latter stages of his career. He recently weighed in on his expected retirement age, comparing himself to featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, who delivered a dominant performance over Diego Lopes at 38 during UFC 325. Volkanovski’s longevity became a natural comparison point as Strickland reflected on how much longer he could remain competitive.

Volkanovski just won. He’s almost 38, it’s kind of hard. Like, what would I do? I’m turning 35 and I have three years in me, and that’s a lot of fights. I could probably retire now if I wanted to. I’m smart with my finances.

Sean Strickland via Red Corner MMA

His reflections underscore the realities veteran fighters face in the UFC, balancing performance, age, and career longevity. Comparisons to Volkanovski highlight how some athletes can maintain elite performance later in their careers. While Sean Strickland has remained competitive against top middleweights, his comments suggest he is evaluating how much longer he can perform at the highest level.

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