Strickland Alleges Chimaev Quit Training Session Amidst Escalating Verbal Feud

A war of words has erupted between prominent UFC middleweight contenders Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev, centering on conflicting accounts of a past training session and sharp criticisms regarding Chimaev’s career trajectory and gym etiquette. The dispute, which gained public traction following Strickland’s recent victory at UFC Houston, has ignited debate within the mixed martial arts community about the true nature of their interactions and the motivations behind Chimaev’s divisional movements.

The controversy began when Khamzat Chimaev, the undefeated middleweight contender, stated in a recent interview that Sean Strickland held a dislike for him stemming from a training session where Chimaev purportedly made Strickland tap out. Chimaev, known for his dominant grappling and aggressive style, presented this narrative as the foundation for any animosity between the two fighters.

However, Sean Strickland, fresh off a main event win over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston on Saturday, offered a starkly different recollection during the post-fight media scrum. When directly questioned about Chimaev’s comments, Strickland vehemently denied tapping, instead claiming the opposite occurred. "I made him quit training," Strickland asserted, looking to his coach, Eric Nicksick, as a witness. "No, we were doing positional grappling… ‘Alright, start on my back’ and I was like, first round, I let him fcking choke me because no one gives a fck." Strickland’s account suggests a tactical decision on his part, implying a lack of serious engagement in the initial exchange, rather than a genuine submission. He then escalated his claims, stating he ultimately pushed Chimaev to terminate the session.

Strickland’s critique of Chimaev extended beyond the specifics of their sparring, delving into what he perceives as Chimaev’s character and approach to training. Strickland painted Chimaev as a "bully" who consistently sought out less challenging training partners. "When I walk into a gym, do you think that I go find the little, weakest man, I say, ‘Let’s spar?’ I go find the biggest, baddest motherfcker and I’m like, ‘Hey, I want to spar you.’ Every time Chimaev would walk in the gym, he would pick the smallest, lowest level pro and say, ‘But oh, he looks like my opponent.’… He would pick the smallest guy. Chimaev’s a fcking bully." This accusation challenges Chimaev’s reputation as a fearless competitor, suggesting a calculated avoidance of top-tier talent even in a training environment.

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Furthermore, Strickland connected this alleged behavior in the gym to Chimaev’s strategic decisions within the UFC divisions. He accused Chimaev of "running and fcking hiding" from difficult matchups, pointing to recent rumors of Chimaev potentially moving up to the light heavyweight division. "And if you notice what he does in a division, he just runs and fcking hides. Now I want to go to 205 and fight fcking Jiri [Prochazka], who’s not even the fcking champ. You just run and fcking hide. You did it when you trained with us, and you’re doing it in the fcking division."

The rumor Strickland referenced suggests Chimaev (13-0 MMA) might be contemplating a move to 205 pounds to challenge former champion Jiri Prochazka (30-4-1 MMA) for an interim light heavyweight title. This speculation has been circulating online, fueled by an unverified possibility that current light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira (10-2 MMA) could move up to the heavyweight division. As of this report, these rumors remain unsubstantiated by official UFC announcements.

Chimaev, an undefeated top contender in the middleweight division, secured a significant majority decision victory over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (20-4-1 MMA) at UFC 294 in October 2023. This win positioned him as a strong candidate for a middleweight title shot. Chimaev has previously competed across both welterweight and middleweight, committing to the 185-pound division after his victory over Usman. Strickland’s comments imply that this rumored move to light heavyweight is not a pursuit of greater challenges but rather an avoidance tactic, suggesting Chimaev is shying away from a direct path to the middleweight championship, currently held by Dricus du Plessis (21-2 MMA).

Strickland further bolstered his argument by recalling Chimaev’s closely contested bout with Gilbert Burns (22-7 MMA) at UFC 273 in April 2022. That fight, a unanimous decision victory for Chimaev, was widely regarded as his toughest test to date, earning both fighters "Fight of the Night" honors. "Look at when he fought my boy, Gilbert fcking Burns, good fcking family man… Gilbert Burns fcking pulled his card," Strickland stated, highlighting Burns’s performance against the larger Chimaev. "Gilbert Burns is, like, 5-foot-8 and almost fcked him up. Did a gddamn good job, Gilbert Burns is a savage, but it’s like, you’re just a fcking bully." Strickland’s perspective suggests that Chimaev, despite his victory, struggled disproportionately against the smaller Burns, reinforcing the "bully" narrative.

Khamzat Chimaev was quick to issue a response to Strickland’s accusations, taking to social media to directly address his rival. Chimaev’s retort aimed to undermine Strickland’s credibility by referencing Dricus du Plessis, the fighter who twice defeated Strickland. "Habibi calm down, I destroyed the guy who beat you twice. American bitch," Chimaev posted. While Chimaev has not fought du Plessis, his comment strategically points to du Plessis’s two victories over Strickland—first in July 2022 and then again at UFC 297 in January 2024, where du Plessis claimed the UFC Middleweight Championship from Strickland—as a means to diminish Strickland’s standing and invalidate his claims.

Sean Strickland (29-6 MMA), a former UFC Middleweight Champion, lost his title to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 in a split decision that remains contentious among fans and analysts. Prior to that, Strickland had secured the title with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in September 2023, a significant upset that cemented his status as a top-tier middleweight. His recent win over Anthony Hernandez, while not a championship bout, allowed him to rebound from his title loss and maintain his position in the division. Strickland’s outspoken nature and willingness to engage in verbal sparring are well-documented, often preceding or accompanying his professional bouts.

The ongoing verbal exchange between Strickland and Chimaev adds another layer of intrigue to the already competitive middleweight division. With both fighters positioned as significant contenders, a potential future clash between them, whether at 185 or 205 pounds, would undoubtedly carry substantial anticipation, fueled by this burgeoning personal animosity.