Strickland’s harsh words ahead of title fight

Sean Strickland has once again made headlines with his controversial remarks. Ahead of his middleweight title fight against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312, he launched a verbal attack on Khamzat Chimaev. During a recent MMA Junkie interview, Strickland made it clear that he does not respect Chimaev and even called him offensive names. The American fighter has never been afraid to speak his mind, and his latest comments have caused strong reactions in the MMA world.

“A Chechen whore, brother. Whoever fights that guy is going to get a payday, fing Chechen whore,”* Strickland said.

His words have sparked outrage among fans and fighters alike, raising questions about whether Strickland is setting up a future fight against Chimaev. Some believe that their rivalry is growing and that a fight between them in 2025 could become one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the year.

UFC 312: A high-stakes championship rematch

UFC 312 will take place on February 9, 2025, at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. The main event will be a highly anticipated rematch between Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland for the UFC middleweight championship. Their first fight took place at UFC 297, where du Plessis won via split decision in a back-and-forth battle. Many fans believed the decision was controversial, leading to demands for an immediate rematch.

Since winning the title, du Plessis has defended his belt successfully against Israel Adesanya, proving himself as a legitimate champion. Strickland, on the other hand, has been pushing for another chance to reclaim the belt and now finally gets his opportunity. The rematch promises to be an intense showdown, as both fighters have developed a heated rivalry since their last meeting. UFC 312 could determine who is the true king of the middleweight division moving forward.

Chimaev is expected to fight the winner

Following Khamzat Chimaev’s dominant victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308, many believed he was next in line for a title shot. The undefeated Swedish-Chechen fighter has been on an impressive winning streak, defeating several top-ranked opponents in dominant fashion. His performance against Whittaker solidified his position as one of the most dangerous fighters in the middleweight division.

Despite Chimaev’s rise, the UFC opted for the du Plessis-Strickland rematch instead of giving him a title shot. However, Dana White has confirmed that Chimaev is still the top contender and will likely face the winner of UFC 312.

“Khamzat is getting his title shot, it’s just a matter of when,” White said after UFC 308.

Strickland dismisses Chimaev’s credentials

Although Strickland is focused on UFC 312, he has already made it clear that he wants to fight Chimaev next. In a separate interview, he insulted Chimaev again and downplayed his abilities inside the octagon. Strickland has repeatedly stated that he does not believe Chimaev is an elite middleweight, arguing that his record is inflated due to weak competition.

“He’s not a real man. I want to fight him after this,” Strickland said.

Strickland also took aim at Robert Whittaker, criticizing his performance against Chimaev at UFC 308. He suggested that the Australian was not in peak condition and that his loss did not prove Chimaev’s dominance.

“Whittaker is great some days, but on others, he’s garbage. Against Chimaev, he was terrible,” Strickland added.

He insisted that Whittaker’s performance should not be used to determine Chimaev’s true level. Strickland believes that only by fighting him will Chimaev truly prove his worth as a title contender.

Could Strickland vs. Chimaev happen in 2025?

If Strickland wins at UFC 312, there is a high likelihood that his first title defense will be against Chimaev. With both fighters exchanging insults and building up tension, a potential matchup could generate massive interest. Fans have already begun speculating about how a fight between the two would play out. Given Chimaev’s wrestling dominance and Strickland’s striking prowess, the fight could be a fascinating clash of styles.

For now, Chimaev has not responded to Strickland’s latest comments, but MMA fans are eagerly waiting to see if he fires back. With so much animosity between them, it seems only a matter of time before these two middleweights meet inside the octagon. Whether it happens later in 2025 or beyond, a fight between Strickland and Chimaev would undoubtedly be one of the most anticipated matchups in the division’s history.

Source: MMAnytt.se

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