Daniel Cormier: Khamzat Chimaev may skip over Sean Strickland
Throughout a current episode of Good Man/Unhealthy Man with Chael Sonnen, Cormier weighed in on Strickland and the subsequent middleweight title shot.
“I believe the concern for Sean Strickland, is he beat Paulo Costa, Robert Whittaker has additionally crushed Paulo Costa. [Whittaker’s] additionally crushed [Ikram]Aliskerov… if [Whittaker] places Chimaev behind him, it could make a really compelling argument that [Whittaker] ought to be subsequent,” Cormier mentioned of Strickland. “[Du Plessis] desires Whittaker to win. He wants him to win. As a result of the Robert Whittaker within the battle, the way it performed out between him and DDP. If Khamzat [Chimaev] wins now, now you will have one thing to fret about…
“As a result of now you will have this undefeated man, who for therefore a few years, we thought it was solely a matter of time till he turned a world champion,” Cormier continued. “Khamzat instantly appeared like a man who can be a champion, you would see it, and that will make me involved if I’m Sean Strickland…he shouldn’t really feel so good, as a result of when Dana [White] speaks, he could go ‘This man’s subsequent! That is who we now have’. However there’s a tone to his voice that makes you imagine that what he’s telling you is for certain. I didn’t hear that tone, I didn’t hear that for-sure tone for Sean Strickland…so I do imagine that there’s room for Chimaev to work his approach in there.”
One other component is Alex Pereira, who may probably return to 185lbs after his upcoming mild heavyweight title protection. Within the UFC 305 aftermath, Pereira teased a attainable comeback at middleweight after du Plessis’s win.
Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev will sq. off at UFC 308 in October. The winner may probably earn a title shot for his or her subsequent reserving.
Strickland is trying to get again to the title after a loss to du Plessis. He earned the belt by amassing one of many largest upset wins in UFC historical past over Israel Adesanya.
