Well, it looks like @SStricklandMMA
is ready for a matchup with Khamzat!
#UFC294Didn’t hold back and we wouldn’t expect him to.
#ExtraRounds from the @PBR Teams
Championship. pic.twitter.com/uuQPRVkOzD— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass)
October 22, 2023
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As one might expect, Sean
Strickland is quite outspoken on the subject of the UFC
middleweight division’s new No. 1 contender.
Khamzat
Chimaev made his 185-pound debut at UFC 294, where he defeated
ex-welterweight king Kamaru
Usman in Saturday’s co-main event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Even though he hasn’t beaten anyone in the middleweight rankings,
the victory was presumably enough to assure Chimaev of a title
shot. At least, that’s what UFC CEO Dana White promised ahead of
the fight.
In an interview on the UFC Fight Pass “Extra Rounds” show,
Strickland questioned Chimaev’s credentials as a No. 1 contender in
his new weight class. Of course, that doesn’t mean Strickland will
try and deny Chimaev of his opportunity.
“The only thing I like about Chimaev is that he sells fights,”
Strickland said. “For some reason, people f—king like him or don’t
like him. I don’t know. To me, he’s a f—king paycheck. He sells a
lot of fights. People pay to watch, but he f—king hasn’t earned
it.
“He doesn’t f—-ing deserve it, but here we are. Give it to him. He
sells a lot of fights. I’ll go fight the f—ing man for five rounds.
But no, he’s not earned it. He doesn’t f—king deserve it. Getting a
decision with a welterweight off the couch is not f—ing earning
it.”
Strickland claimed the middleweight throne with a shocking upset
victory against Israel
Adesanya at UFC 293 in September. Before Strickland stepped in
against “The Last Stylebender,” Dricus Du
Plessis was supposed to be next in line to receive a title
shot. However, the South African contender wasn’t healthy enough to
face Adesanya at UFC 293 after defeating Robert
Whittaker in July.
Chimaev revealed after UFC 294 that he
might have broken his hand in the opening round against Usman.
The extent of that injury is currently unknown, and it’s also
unclear if it would affect a potential Strickland vs. Chimaev
booking.