Khamzat Chimaev is pushing hard for another shot at UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland after coming up short in their first meeting.
Strickland defeated Chimaev by split decision at UFC 328 in May to become a two-time middleweight champion, but the result has not cooled Chimaev’s interest in the matchup. After the fight, Dana White said Chimaev initially stated in the octagon that he would move up to light heavyweight next, yet Chimaev has since shifted gears and begun campaigning for a middleweight title rematch with Strickland.
Chimaev, known as "The Wolf," is now firmly back in the 185-pound title conversation, though timing could be an issue. Strickland has said he would not be ready to fight before December due to lingering injuries.
Nassourdine Imavov is also in the mix at middleweight. He is on a six-fight unbeaten streak in the UFC and has an argument for a title shot against Strickland. Strickland, however, already holds a unanimous decision win over Imavov from a short-notice catchweight bout in January 2023, and both Chimaev and Imavov are 0-1 against the champion.
