The next middleweight title shot is what Sean Strickland longs for. It is up to Khamzat Chimaev whether he gets his promised title shot. More plainly, on how much Chimaev influenced UFC CEO Dana White at the UFC 308 event last weekend. Prime instigator Chael Sonnen reached out to Sean Strickland immediately after ‘Borz’ staged his domination.
Safe to say, Sean Strickland was only mildly impressed after UFC 308. This past Saturday, Khamzat Chimaev crushed former champion Robert Whittaker via first-round via submission (face crank). ‘Tarzan’ gave the explosive Chechen machine his props but wanted what was due. Chael Sonnen wanted a quote from Strickland, and he got exactly what he wanted.
I quote, ‘I’m next in line. It has been said, it has been written. After I beat Dricus up, Chimaev can step up. And to the point that Chimaev is a contender, I welcome that,…man who scammed his [fans], became friends with a dictator and had to flee his homeland…needs to tighten his own leash up a little bit. Hey Chimaev, sit down and wait your turn.’
Chael Sonnen on his ‘Good Guy/Bad Guy’ Podcast (@ESPNMMA) for ESPN2, ESPNPodcenter
Sonnen and co-host Daniel Cormier marveled at the “nasty” and crass delivery. Both already agree that nastiness is how one forge title runs. So, this falls under the line of something different than Strickland usually does. Strickland lost the middleweight title to Dricus Du Plessis but claims he was ripped off by “dirty” judges at UFC 297. His follow-up win over Paulo Costa was nothing to write home about.
However, at the time, Dana White said it meant Sean Strickland was next in line. Du Plessis billed that Whittaker had a better case for it. One can only wonder where Chimaev would fall after UFC 308. Dricus Du Plessis also agrees that a title defense needs to happen ASAP against the Chechen. Cormier also bills that he can surely leapfrog Strickland for it.
Daniel Cormier: Khamzat Chimaev deserves a title shot and Sean Strickland should worry
After UFC 308, ‘DC’ believes Khamzat Chimaev has likely overtaken Sean Strickland as the No. 1 middleweight seed. Strickland went on a long nag, blaming judges, brass, Du Plessis, Canada, and everyone else after his January pay-per-view loss. He soon got a title promise at UFC 302 in June. However, Chimaev has had his promise of gold since scrapping Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman.
Chimaev ran through a former champ for a first-round submission in Saturday’s pay-per-view co-main event. Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) has doubled down on a title fight rematch. But Cormier isn’t so sure he will scale up to the undefeated phenom and his chances after UFC 308’s performance.
Chimaev earned himself a title shot, or at least he should have, …He submitted Robert Whittaker in the first round – first round! When he wasn’t the champion, he was ranked No. 1, or No. 2. Chimaev is ranked No. 12 right now. And if you’re Sean Strickland, that result worries you. Why? Because Mick Maynard is sitting next to me and jumps up and runs to Dana, and they start talking with Hunter.
Daniel Cormier via his Official YT Channel (@@DC_MMA)
The veteran thinks Chimaev solidified himself as the No. 1 contender at 185 pounds with another explosive wrestling and top mount magic. Meanwhile, Strickland and his last two decision barriers were not all that impressive compared to UFC 293. Hence, he thinks Strickland is running out of reasons to complain to UFC if someone like Khamzat Chimaev walks the walk.
