Khamzat Chimaev to defend UFC middleweight title against Sean Strickland
Khamzat Chimaev will make the first defence of his UFC middleweight championship against former titleholder Sean Strickland in a bitter grudge match at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey, on 9 May.
The undefeated Russian claimed the 185lb crown by dethroning Dricus du Plessis with a dominant wrestling performance.
He will now face a familiar foe in the shape of his former training partner at the Prudential Center.
Bad blood spills into the Octagon
The highly anticipated bout is steeped in animosity following months of verbal sparring between the two fighters.
Chimaev recently claimed he submitted the outspoken American during a past training session.
That allegation drew a furious response from the 35-year-old challenger, who vehemently denied the tap-out and accused the champion of cowardice in the gym.
Every time Chimaev would walk in the gym, he would pick the smallest, lowest-level pro.
Chimaev’s a f***ing bully.
Strickland seeks middleweight redemption
The controversial challenger is aiming to reclaim the championship he famously won in a monumental upset against Israel Adesanya in September 2023.
His reign was short-lived, suffering a points defeat to Du Plessis in his first defence before falling short in a subsequent rematch last February.
By contrast, the 31-year-old champion remains unbeaten as a professional mixed martial artist.
The Chechen-born superstar has looked almost invincible inside the cage, with severe health scares and visa issues previously acting as his most formidable hurdles.
A test of championship mettle
Strickland believes the titleholder lacks heart, pointing to a grueling 2022 welterweight clash with Gilbert Burns as proof of vulnerability.
During that bout, the Brazilian dropped the rising star before ultimately losing a narrow decision in what remains the most competitive fight of the champion’s career.
Fans will now discover if the abrasive challenger can push the undefeated kingpin into similarly deep waters this May.
