Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) Middleweight division has some contenders who need sorting.
Despite losing the title just one fight before his latest outing, Sean Strickland is adamant he’s the clear-cut next contender in line for the winner of Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya’s title fight at UFC 305 next month (Sat., Aug. 17, 2024). Since his split decision loss to du Plessis at UFC 297 (watch highlights), Strickland has rebounded with a split decision nod over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 last month (June 1, 2024).
Undefeated 13-0 star, Khamzat Chimaev, was also supposed to return last month. Unfortunately for “Borz,” he fell ill just a few weeks out from his UFC Saudi Arabia main event against the former champion, Robert Whittaker. Chimaev, 30, has no timetable for his next fight yet, but he’s already shared how he expects to challenge for the title at the end of 2024. When looking at the overall landscape, Chimaev was asked about Strickland, who he’s sparred before at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.
“He said he beat me in sparring,” Chimaev told Aslanbek Badaev (h/t Red Corner MMA). “But there were a lot of guys around who saw me choking him and beating him up. It was even recorded on camera. So, we also have some unfinished business. It would be good to see who’s better inside the Octagon.”
Chimaev has only one win at 185 pounds since he committed to the division in 2023. At UFC 294, Chimaev was lined up to take on the aforementioned Costa before an elbow infection took out the Brazilian. The former Welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, entered to save the day and came up short via a majority decision.