The Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi witnessed one of the electrifying UFC fight cards last night. Throughout the night, there were several exceptional performances. UFC middleweight star Khamzat Chimaev’s performance against Robert Whittaker was among them. The aftermath of the fight garnered a lot of attention. As such, it even sparked a reaction from former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland.
Khamzat Chimaev faced Robert Whittaker after a year-long hiatus from the octagon. Despite the lengthy break, Chimaev decisively defeated Whittaker, demonstrating his skills against the former champion. Soon, the Chechen native appeared to call for a title shot. In response, Sean Strickland, who is already in line for a title shot, criticized Chimaev.
Strickland specifically called out Chimaev’s involvement with cryptocurrency. Nearly a year ago, multiple reports emerged about Borz’s association with cryptocurrency scams. This wasn’t the first instance of UFC fighters being linked to such controversies. However, in Chimaev’s case, he and his team issued a public apology, stating they were misled. Strickland even mocked the Chechen star a lot at the time.
Understand one thing…. I am next in line….. Its been said, its been written… January/February me and @dricusduplessis are scrapping
Go back to Chechnya and wait a few months….. wait.. sorry UAE… you’re not allowed in Chechnya…But hey crypto scams while you wait
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) October 26, 2024
Interestingly, Chimaev and Strickland were once good friends who trained together on multiple occasions. However, their relationship turned sour over time, and they began to dislike each other. Strickland’s recent comments following Chimaev’s impressive victory highlight this tension. However, many other prominent figures in the UFC community praised Borz’s performance amidst this.
Henry Cejudo praises Khamzat Chimaev’s MMA prowess
Khamzat Chimaev has consistently delivered dominant performances. He remains undefeated with an eight-fight win streak in the promotion. Chimaev’s most notable recent victories were against two former UFC champions, Robert Whittaker and Kamaru Usman. However, several doubts have been raised about him, particularly by former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo.
Initially, Cejudo, an Olympic wrestling champion, was impressed by Chimaev’s wrestling skills. Over time, however, he expressed concerns about the Chechen fighter’s stamina. After watching Chimaev’s recent performance against Whittaker, Cejudo changed his stance and praised Borz. Furthermore, the former UFC double champion advocated for Chimaev to receive a title shot next.
I admit it…I was wrong about @KChimaev ! @danawhite give him the next title shot #UFC308 🏆
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) October 26, 2024
Chimaev has long sought a title shot, believing strongly in his skills. With his recent victory over a former champion, his desire for the title may soon be realized. The UFC middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis, is interested in facing Chimaev. Only time will tell when that title fight happens.