Sean Strickland is the stiffest problem that Khamzat Chimaev might face throughout his tenure as UFC middleweight champion. This sentiment was expressed by a former 185-pound titleholder throughout the Final Preventing Championship. Luke Rockhold was the fighter in query, and he expressed this thought throughout a latest look on the Jaxxon podcast.
Expounding upon his ideas concerning a possible Chimaev vs. Strickland title conflict, Rockhold mentioned,
“I hate to say it, however Strickland ought to win a battle, and he’s most likely the hardest take a look at for Khamzat. Strickland is annoyingly arduous to carry down. He’s not that good on the bottom, however he can rise up, and that’s the largest factor with Khamzat – he can not maintain him down. Khamzat has acquired to get comfy on the ft. If he can’t maintain a man down, it may very well be powerful. [Training together] performs a task in each their heads.”
Sean Strickland echoes the identical sentiments concerning his possibilities in opposition to Khamzat Chimaev
Sean Strickland additionally likes his possibilities in a showdown with Khamzat Chimaev, however like Rockhold mentioned, Strickland additionally understands he must get again to profitable methods to safe a prizefight like that. Strickland and Chimaev have a well-documented coaching historical past with each other, with the 2 having residual unhealthy blood from their time within the fitness center collectively.
Strickland fell quick in a middleweight title bid in opposition to Dricus du Plessis in February, with Chimaev capturing that strap from DDP in August. Sean Strickland has talked about the identify of Anthony ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez as somebody he want to battle subsequent, as he has a wave of momentum that might safe the previous a title shot if he will get a win over the latter.
Strickland additionally playfully referred to as ‘Fluffy’ the American Chimaev and thinks securing a win over somebody like Hernandez can be a great indicator for the way Strickland would do in opposition to Chimaev. Calling out the reigning UFC champion and addressing his personal intentions to develop into a two-time titleholder at 185 kilos, Strickland acknowledged [via MMA Weekly],
“I wish to battle Chimaev. And you understand, plenty of it appears like a private vendetta as a result of I’m the one f**king one which beats Chimaev. Chimaev is aware of this. His camp is aware of this. All people f**king is aware of this, dude. I’m the one one which f**king beats you. I’ve wrestled with all the blokes that he’s going to battle and he’s simply going to f**king steamroll them.”
