Khamzat Chimaev & Nassourdine Imavov Among Fighters Unimpressed By UFC 312 Main Event

Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland ran it back in Saturday’s UFC 312 headliner, and it’s safe to say the rematch didn’t thrill the MMA masses. The pair’s second dance went down this weekend in Sydney, Australia, 13 months on from Du Plessis securing a narrow split decision to capture the middleweight crown. The South […]

Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland ran it back in Saturday’s UFC 312 headliner, and it’s safe to say the rematch didn’t thrill the MMA masses.

The pair’s second dance went down this weekend in Sydney, Australia, 13 months on from Du Plessis securing a narrow split decision to capture the middleweight crown.

The South African made good on his promise to show more evolution in the time since the first meeting, dominantly outpointing a gun-shy Strickland across five rounds in the UFC 312 main event at the Qudos Bank Arena.

As is often the case, “Tarzan” promised fans a war on fight night but failed to deliver, with his approach even garnering boos from the crowd in attendance at some points in the fight.

And it was far from just the locals in the arena who were bemused by how the fight played out at UFC 312. Among the critics online were a pair of top 185-pound contenders vying to compete for the gold next — Khamzat Chimaev and Nassourdine Imavov.

Many believed Chimaev was deserving of the first shot at Du Plessis in 2025. While “Tarzan” got the better of Paulo Costa in a lackluster 15-minute contest last June, “Borz” emphatically submitted Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi four months later.

Imavov, meanwhile, staked his claim for a first championship opportunity last weekend in Saudi Arabia, where he knocked out former two-time champ Israel Adesanya.

Khamzat Chimaev & Nassourdine Imavov Among Fighters Unimpressed By UFC 312 Main Event

Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland ran it back in Saturday’s UFC 312 headliner, and it’s safe to say the rematch didn’t thrill the MMA masses. The pair’s second dance went down this weekend in Sydney, Australia, 13 months on from Du Plessis securing a narrow split decision to capture the middleweight crown. The South […]

Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland ran it back in Saturday’s UFC 312 headliner, and it’s safe to say the rematch didn’t thrill the MMA masses.

The pair’s second dance went down this weekend in Sydney, Australia, 13 months on from Du Plessis securing a narrow split decision to capture the middleweight crown.

The South African made good on his promise to show more evolution in the time since the first meeting, dominantly outpointing a gun-shy Strickland across five rounds in the UFC 312 main event at the Qudos Bank Arena.

As is often the case, “Tarzan” promised fans a war on fight night but failed to deliver, with his approach even garnering boos from the crowd in attendance at some points in the fight.

And it was far from just the locals in the arena who were bemused by how the fight played out at UFC 312. Among the critics online were a pair of top 185-pound contenders vying to compete for the gold next — Khamzat Chimaev and Nassourdine Imavov.

Many believed Chimaev was deserving of the first shot at Du Plessis in 2025. While “Tarzan” got the better of Paulo Costa in a lackluster 15-minute contest last June, “Borz” emphatically submitted Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi four months later.

Imavov, meanwhile, staked his claim for a first championship opportunity last weekend in Saudi Arabia, where he knocked out former two-time champ Israel Adesanya.

“Crybaby” – UFC Star Khamzat Chimaev Rips Sean Strickland in Brutal Callout

"Crybaby" - UFC Star Khamzat Chimaev Rips Sean Strickland in Brutal CalloutKhamzat Chimaev is back at it, slamming the UFC 312 title challenger Sean Strickland in another vicious callout. The…

"Crybaby" - UFC Star Khamzat Chimaev Rips Sean Strickland in Brutal Callout

Khamzat Chimaev is back at it, slamming the UFC 312 title challenger Sean Strickland in another vicious callout.

The clip, which you can see below, begins with Chimaev dubbing Strickland a “crybaby” before cutting to a video of the former middleweight champion’s appearance on This Past Weekend with Theo Von last year. Strickland became notably upset and shed a few tears while looking back on his traumatic childhood.

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The video then quickly shifts to a video of ‘Borz’ laughing followed by a clip from the film Higher Learning. In the selected scene, a white supremacist character played by Michael Rapaport destroys his room following a run-in with a group of black students.

It’s unclear if Chimaev chose that particular clip in reference to Strickland’s often controversial political views or if it was simply Rapaport’s likeness to ‘Tarzan’ that prompted him to go in that direction.

Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev continue to wage war online ahead of Saturday’s middleweight headliner

It’s certainly not the first time Chimaev has taken aim at Strickland. Hell, it’s not the first time this week. On Wednesday, the undefeated Chechen monster called out Strickland, asking him why he’s “crying all the time” and referring to the contentious relationship Strickland has with his father.

Strickland was quick to respond, calling out Chimaev for his link to Chechen dictator Ramazan Kadyrov.

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“Just got done training, mind is clear,” Strickland wrote on X. “I’m gonna lay off of Chimeav chechen thing. I’m very aware that his family is probably in danger and he probably regrets that relationship.. So I’m going to attempt to not go there. Have a good day. Here’s to trying. Still is bit coin scams?

Strickland will look to reclaim the middleweight championship on Saturday when he runs it back with the division’s reigning and defending titleholder, Dricus Du Plessis. Their UFC 312 headliner will serve as a rematch between the two after ‘DDP’ came out on top the first time around in January 2024.

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Sean Strickland Unleashes on Khamzat Chimaev, Calls Him a ‘Whore’

Sean Strickland Unleashes on Khamzat Chimaev, Calls Him a 'Whore'Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev are at it again. ‘Borz’ will undoubtedly have his eyes on this weekend’s middleweight…

Sean Strickland Unleashes on Khamzat Chimaev, Calls Him a 'Whore'

Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev are at it again.

‘Borz’ will undoubtedly have his eyes on this weekend’s middleweight headliner between defending champion Dricus Du Plessis and former titleholder Sean Strickland. The two will close out UFC 312 this Saturday night when the promotion heads back to Sydney, Australia for its second pay-per-view event of the year.

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In all likelihood, Chimaev will be the next man up whether it be Du Plessis or Strickland who leaves The Land Down Under with middleweight gold strapped around their waist. And while the undefeated Chechen monster isn’t particularly considered with which fighter he faces, that didn’t stop him from taking a dig at ‘Tarzan’ while taking in the fight week festivities.

“Why are you baby crying all the time? Father didn’t give you love or he showed his love to you too much,” Chimaev wrote on X accompanied by a trio of laughing emojis.

Sean Strickland snaps back at ‘borz’

That sparked a strong response from Strickland who took a dig at Khamzat Chimaev’s controversial relationship with Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov who has been accused of committing crimes against humanity, including but not limited to kidnapping, assassination, torture, and anti-gay purges in the Republic.

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“Heres the thing my dad did hit me with some beer bottles once or twice lmao I will admit it, made me the man i am today… but I guarantee this little whore sucked off Kadyro.. obviously not good enough because you had to flee your country,” Strickland snapped back.

Of course, Strickland was far from done there.

“#chechenwhore not the first time you went to your knees,” Strickland wrote alongside a screenshot of Chimaev sparring with Kadyrov.

Though Chimaev and UFC CEO Dana White have denied it, Chimaev’s jiu-jitsu coach Alan Nascimento disclosed ahead of UFC 294 that Chimaev was encountering difficulties entering the United States, presumably because of his relationship with Kadyrov.

Ramzan Kadryov Khamzat Chimaev

As a result, Chimaev has relocated to the United Arab Emirates to help mitigate his travel issues.

“[Chimaev] just got a 10-year visa in Abu Dhabi and will apply for a type of passport here in the UAE, something like a citizenship, that could be used for travels,” Nascimento told MMA Fighting. “Many Russian athletes are suffering with that. Chechens, Dagestani, Russians in general. But I think things will start to flow for Chimaev soon, and for other athletes too.”

Chimaev has not competed in the U.S. since September 2022.