Khamzat Chimaev is still chasing a rematch with Sean Strickland, and he’s now willing to put his own money on the table to make it happen.
Ever since dropping a split decision to Strickland at UFC 328 and losing his unbeaten record, Chimaev has pushed for another shot at the UFC middleweight champion. However, with Nassourdine Imavov expected to be next in line for a title fight, “Borz” appears tired of waiting.
Now, the Chechen star has made a public offer to Strickland in an attempt to secure a second fight. Recent reports suggested Strickland’s next title defense had stalled due to disagreements with the UFC over his purse. The champion was initially expected to face Imavov before the end of 2026, but negotiations have reportedly slowed the process.
After Imavov publicly offered Strickland $500,000 to accept the fight, Chimaev stepped in with an even more eye-catching proposal.
“Strickland, I will pay you one lemon. Send me location and let’s fight. I don’t care if it’s inside or outside of the cage,” Chimaev wrote on social media.
The phrase “one lemon” is commonly used as slang for $1 million, making the offer a significant statement from the former title challenger.
The keyword Khamzat Chimaev offers Strickland prize money quickly gained attention across the MMA community, as Chimaev made it clear that reclaiming his rivalry with Strickland matters more to him than waiting in line for another title shot.
Chimaev and Strickland built a heated rivalry before their UFC 328 title clash. While the pair appeared to put their differences aside after the fight, both men have continued taking shots at each other in interviews and on social media.
Strickland has not publicly responded to Chimaev’s latest challenge, but given their history, many fans expect a reaction sooner rather than later.
While Chimaev continues pushing for another fight with Strickland, he has also expressed frustration with the UFC’s matchmaking process.
The middleweight contender recently revealed that he had hoped to stay active but has been unable to secure a fight. As a result, he plans to take time to recover from lingering injuries while remaining active in other combat sports competitions.
Before any potential UFC return, Chimaev is scheduled to compete in several high-profile grappling and crossover events.
