Khamzat Chimaev says UFC champ Sean Strickland ‘has to be afraid’ of him, expects title shot next
January 9, 2024 11:45 am ET
Khamzat Chimaev has issued UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland a warning.
Strickland (28-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC) makes his first title defense against Dricus Du Plessis (20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in the UFC 297 headliner Jan. 20 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Chimaev has trained with Strickland before at Xtreme Couture and praised him for being a good fighter. Strickland took aim at Belal Muhammad for showing Palestine support during itâs ongoing conflict with Israel but didnât comment when Chimaev did.
Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) was asked if he thinks Strickland is afraid of him.
âI donât know, man,â Chimaev said in an interview with Mohammed Hijab. âHe has to be afraid. Inshallah we fight with everyone, so the fights in the cage is not that big thing. If we can make some people happy who is going through hard times and all Muslims watching us and me and Khabib, all the Muslim fighters, Belal.
âWe know all of the kids, our kids, theyâre watching. They want to be like us, want to be strong people. Inshallah we try to be a good picture for them. Sean Strickland, all these guys, they should be afraid of us. We fight not just for us like they do. We fight for all Muslims.â
Chimaev was declared No. 1 contender when he defeated former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 294, and he expects to be next in line for the winner of Strickland vs. Du Plessis.
âOne hundred percent,â Chimaev said. âHe (Strickland) has a good fighter who heâs fighting with, Du Plessis, and if he wins against this guy, for sure weâre going to fight 100 percent. They promised for me that fight, so now weâre going to wait whoâs winning the fight and then take the belt.â
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkieâs event hub for UFC 297.
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