Khamzat Chimaev is growing impatient as he waits for a second shot at the UFC middleweight title, and he believes Sean Strickland is the reason negotiations have yet to move forward.
Earlier this year, Strickland shocked many fans when he edged Khamzat Chimaev by split decision at UFC 328 to reclaim the middleweight championship. Entering the bout as the underdog, Strickland delivered a disciplined performance that handed Chimaev the first loss of his professional MMA career.
Following the defeat, Chimaev initially suggested he was interested in moving up to light heavyweight rather than pursuing an immediate rematch. However, the former champion has since changed course and made it clear that regaining the middleweight title remains his top priority.
UFC CEO Dana White recently revealed that a rematch between Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev is being considered for the division’s next title fight, although the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Meanwhile, top contender Nassourdine Imavov has also emerged as a strong candidate for a championship opportunity.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the title picture, Chimaev claims the UFC is already trying to put the rematch together and believes Strickland is holding up the process. Taking to social media, Khamzat Chimaev sent a direct message to the reigning champion.
“Accept the fight, don’t run, I’ll beat you anyway,” Chimaev wrote.“The sooner this happens, the easier it will be to breathe.”
As of now, Strickland has not publicly responded to the challenge.The champion previously stated after UFC 328 that he believes Imavov deserves the next title opportunity more than an immediate rematch with Chimaev. Those comments only added more intrigue to an already crowded middleweight title picture.
Before losing the belt, Khamzat Chimaev enjoyed a dominant run through the division. He captured the middleweight title with a convincing victory over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 and later solidified his status as one of the division’s most feared fighters with a submission win over Robert Whittaker.
Now holding a professional record of 15-1, Chimaev remains determined to reclaim the championship and erase the only blemish on his résumé.
For his part, Strickland has offered few details about his next fight beyond revealing that he hopes to return to the Octagon in December.
Until the UFC makes a final decision, the future of the middleweight division remains up in the air. One thing is clear, however: Khamzat Chimaev wants his rematch, and he is making sure everyone knows it.
“Accept the fight, don’t run, I’ll beat you anyway,” Chimaev repeated as speculation surrounding the rematch continues to grow.
Whether Strickland answers the challenge or the UFC moves in another direction remains to be seen, but Khamzat Chimaev has left no doubt about who he wants to face next.
