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Inside the Gym: Coach Reveals Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland’s Surprising Chemistry Despite Rivalry

Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland MMA coach Eric Nicksick recently offered insight into the rivalry between former UFC champion Sean Strickland and star Khamzat…

MMA coach Eric Nicksick recently offered insight into the rivalry between former UFC champion Sean Strickland and star Khamzat Chimaev. Despite their heated trash-talking exchanges outside the octagon, Nicksick emphasized that the two fighters shared a respectful dynamic when training together in the gym.

Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland Training Together

Strickland, who will look to reclaim his middleweight title at UFC 312 against Dricus du Plessis, has been vocal about his rivalry with Chimaev. Chimaev, a dominant force in the division, has made no secret of his desire for a title shot, which has fueled the tension between the two. Strickland brought up his ties to Ramzan Kadyrov and claims Khamzat Chimaev is a fake Muslim.

“They’re probably messaging each other, telling, you know, what they’re going to say next. Who knows?” Nicksick commented in an interview with Submission Radio, “But yeah, they seem like they got along just fine when they were training at the gym.”

The trash talk, which has included public jabs from both sides, seems to be a way to build the hype for their potential future showdown. According to Nicksick, however, their gym interactions were far from hostile.

“I loved having Khamzat in the gym. I loved having Darren Till in the gym,” Nicksick continued. “They elevated the game. Maybe you have to kind of build that bad blood amongst one another to go out and fight. But, you know, as far as I saw, when they were training together, everything was good.”

Sean Strickland will look to avenge his split-decision loss to du Plessis from UFC 297, while Khamzat Chimaev continues to make waves in the division, believing that he deserves his own shot at the title. Fans eagerly await whether their rivalry will reach its boiling point inside the octagon or remain a war of words for the time being.

Dricus Du Plessis Reacts To Confirmation Of Sean Strickland Rematch: ‘They’ll Call It Attempted Murder…’

UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis is looking to put a stamp on his rivalry with Sean Strickland when they run it back early next year. As 2024 approaches its conclusion, Du Plessis already has his first assignment of the new year in the calendar. After being crowned 185-pound kingpin this past January and subsequently […]

UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis is looking to put a stamp on his rivalry with Sean Strickland when they run it back early next year.

As 2024 approaches its conclusion, Du Plessis already has his first assignment of the new year in the calendar. After being crowned 185-pound kingpin this past January and subsequently defending that status against Israel Adesanya in Australia seven months later, “Stillknocks” will return Down Under.

The promotion confirmed during this past weekend’s pay-per-view broadcast that Du Plessis will headline February’s UFC 312 event in Sydney, running it back with the man at the expense of whom he won the middleweight belt, the #1-ranked Strickland.

Reacting to that announcement on social media this week, the South African vowed to record a more definitive triumph over the polarizing American former champ.

This time they won’t call it a robbery, they’ll call it attempted murder. #UFC312 #preparetobeamazed pic.twitter.com/oSOJ0ih5yf

— Dricus Du Plessis (@dricusduplessis) December 9, 2024

“This time they won’t call it a robbery, they’ll call it attempted murder. #UFC312 #preparetobeamazed”

The pair first met in Strickland’s sole title defense in Canada, with the then-challenger falling on the right side of a split decision verdict following five rounds of close and competitive action.

While “Tarzan’s” only bout since then saw him emerge victorious from a lackluster contest with Paulo Costa, he’s gotten the nod for a shot at redemption opposite Du Plessis over Khamzat Chimaev, whose own claim to an opportunity gained support after he ran through Robert Whittaker in October.

Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 will top a lineup that features two title fights, the other being a highly anticipated strawweight championship contest between Zhang Weili and the undefeated Tatiana Suarez.

Read More: Merab Dvalishvili Gives His Side Of Fan Altercation At UFC 310: ‘Deliberate Provocation From Umar’s Team!’

Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2 Early Odds for UFC 312

Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland are set to clash in a highly anticipated middleweight title rematch at UFC…

Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland are set to clash in a highly anticipated middleweight title rematch at UFC 312 on February 8, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. This bout comes just over a year after their first encounter, where du Plessis claimed the title from Strickland in a closely contested split decision at UFC 297.

Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2 Early Odds

The odds for the upcoming UFC middleweight title fight between Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland are quite close. As of the most recent information available, Sean Strickland is a slight favorite over Dricus du Plessis. The odds are close in this fight, so it might be best to request promo code DraftKings with Oddschecker right here.

According to one sportsbook, Strickland’s odds were set at -155, while du Plessis was listed as the underdog at +135. This means that if you were to bet $155 on Strickland, you would win $100 if he emerged victorious. Conversely, a $100 bet on du Plessis would net you $135 if he wins the fight. However, it’s important to note that odds can fluctuate as the fight date approaches and more bets are placed. Another sportsbook listed slightly different odds, with du Plessis at -110 and Strickland at -103. These tighter odds suggest that bookmakers view this as an extremely close contest, with neither fighter having a significant advantage.

Dricus du Plessis, the 30-year-old South African champion, enters the fight with an impressive 22-2 record and is riding a 10-fight winning streak. He’s been on a tear since joining the UFC, remaining undefeated in the promotion and finishing six of his eight opponents. Du Plessis has proven himself against top competition, having defeated three former champions, including a submission victory over Israel Adesanya in his first title defense.

Sean Strickland, the 33-year-old American challenger, boasts a 29-6 record. He shocked the MMA world in September 2023 by defeating Israel Adesanya to win the middleweight title, only to lose it to du Plessis in his first defense. Since then, Strickland has bounced back with a split decision win over Paulo Costa, earning him this rematch opportunity.

Du Plessis aims to solidify his reign as champion and prove that his first victory over Strickland wasn’t a fluke. For Strickland, this is a chance at redemption and to reclaim the title he briefly held. Both men have a lot to prove, with du Plessis looking to cement his status as the division’s top dog, while Strickland seeks to show he belongs among the elite.

UFC 312 marks the promotion’s seventh visit to Sydney, and this high-stakes middleweight title fight is sure to excite the Australian crowd. As the MMA world eagerly anticipates this rematch, one thing is certain: both du Plessis and Strickland will leave everything in the Octagon as they battle for the middleweight throne.

Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2 Early Odds for UFC 312

Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland are set to clash in a highly anticipated middleweight title rematch at UFC…

Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2 Early Odds

Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2, Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez Announced For UFC 312 In Sydney

MMA’s leading promotion is set for an electric start to the new year, with a blockbuster lineup for Los Angeles in January being followed by two more championship fights at UFC 312 in Australia. After opening its pay-per-view account for 2025 with Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2 and Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov at […]

MMA’s leading promotion is set for an electric start to the new year, with a blockbuster lineup for Los Angeles in January being followed by two more championship fights at UFC 312 in Australia.

After opening its pay-per-view account for 2025 with Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2 and Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov at LA’s Intuit Dome, the UFC will be back in Sydney for its latest show at the Qudos Bank Arena.

And returning to the site where he was shockingly crowned middleweight champion in 2023 will be Sean Strickland (29-6). Despite Khamzat Chimaev gaining support for his claim to a title shot, “Tarzan” will indeed get his chance for redemption at UFC 312 opposite the man who dethroned him this past January, Dricus Du Plessis (22-2).

That news was announced by the broadcast team during Saturday’s UFC 310 PPV, alongside news of the Feb. 8 co-headliner between strawweight queen Zhang Weili (25-3) and undefeated contender Tatiana Suarez (10-0).

Du Plessis has recorded one title defense since dethroning Strickland, submitting former two-time champ Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth this past August. The American challenger, meanwhile, successfully staked his claim for a rematch opposite the South African by outpointing Paulo Costa in a lackluster five-round affair in Newark.

For Zhang, UFC 312 will mark her second challenge since returning to the throne at the expense of Carla Esparza in late 2023. She most recently defeated fellow Chinese standout Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300 this past April. In Suarez, “Magnum” faces a highly regarded wrestler who has long been touted for success on MMA’s biggest stage. She’ll look to ensure her injuries are a thing of the past and open a new era at 115 pounds.

With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 312 in Sydney on Feb. 8 are as follows:

Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs. Sean Strickland (middleweight championship)
Zhang Weili (C) vs. Tatiana Suarez (women’s strawweight championship)
Jimmy Crute vs. Marcin Prachnio (light heavyweight)
Rei Tsuruya vs. Stewart Nicoll (flyweight)
Quillan Salkilld vs. Anshul Jubli (lightweight)

UFC veteran says Sean Strickland Should Be Next in Line for the Title, Not Khamzat Chimaev

UFC veteran Chael Sonnen has voiced strong support for middleweight contender Sean Strickland over Khamzat Chimaev, stating that he…

UFC veteran Chael Sonnen has voiced strong support for middleweight contender Sean Strickland over Khamzat Chimaev, stating that he should be next in line for a title shot, rather than ‘Borz.’ Whereas the champion Dricus du Plessis has stated otherwise.

Sean Strickland Next, Not Khamzat Chimaev

In an interview with Helen Yee, the veteran shared his thoughts on the current landscape of the division, emphasizing that Strickland has earned his chance at the title through hard work and dedication. “Yes, what I want for Khamzat Chimaev is to see him fight Bo Nickal. Not for the title—he’ll get to the title eventually. But that’s Sean Strickland’s. That’s Sean Strickland’s opportunity. He’s been promised that; he earned that,” Chael Sonnen explained.

Sean Strickland’s determination to face the toughest opponents, including Khamzat Chimaev, has made a significant impression on Sonnen. The UFC veteran pointed out that Strickland was willing to fight Chimaev when few others dared, highlighting the courage he showed by stepping up. “Sean was willing to put the very title up against Chimaev. Sean went to training thinking he was gonna fight Chimaev, and he didn’t blink at all,” the veteran noted.

The athlete added that Strickland’s willingness to take on the challenge should be rewarded with a title shot. “There’s one guy that had the balls to go through Chimaev to get to a title, and that was Kamaru Usman, who didn’t get credit for it, and he should have.”

UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis is waiting at the top for a clear contender, both Strickland and Chimaev are in the conversation. Stillknocks’ du Plessis defeated Strickland to capture the title and then defended it against former champion Israel Adesanya. The US-born earned a five-round decision against Paulo Costa to bounce back from his loss. Meanwhile, Khamzat Chimaev is 14-0 with his most recent win being a quick submission against former titleholder Robert Whittaker.

Arman Tsarukyan, a UFC contender, lost a submission grappling match against the middleweight Chimaev, Sonnen observed:

“I loved it. Khamzat choked him out there. There was a clip that went around, and I wish it would have been the whole thing … They do that occasionally for entertainment. I loved every second of that—nobody loses, right? They laugh, they smile, chalk it up to a workout. I love when guys go and do that. And I wish I would have seen 20 minutes of them wrestling, not just that one guillotine. I loved it.”

Strickland’s and Chimaev remain a topic of great discussion among analysts, but for now, Chael Sonnen is firm in his stance: “Sean wins that showdown—it’s his shot.”