Sean Strickland believes he\u2019s got the best shot to take the UFC Middleweight Championship from Khamzat Chimaev.<\/p>\n
Strickland may have dropped two bouts against Dricus du Plessis, but he feels he could give Chimaev some problems with his fighting style. Talking to ESPN\u2019s Brett Okamoto<\/a>, Strickland said that he\u2019d have a better chance of dethroning \u201cBorz\u201d than his UFC Houston opponent Anthony Hernandez (h\/t MMAFighting<\/a>).<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be a big fight,\u201d Strickland said. \u201cI think I\u2019m probably the only one that could beat Chimaev. I honestly think \u2018Fluffy\u2019s\u2019 a better wrestler than Chimaev. I think pace-wise, style-wise, I think over five rounds, \u2018Fluffy\u2019s\u2019 probably a better [wrestler]. But then stand-up, I think Chimaev might take him to a stand-up decision.\u201d<\/p>\n Strickland didn\u2019t hold back when discussing Chimaev\u2019s lack of activity. Chimaev hasn\u2019t fought since he captured the UFC Middleweight Championship back in Aug. 2025, and Strickland doesn\u2019t believe that bodes well for the 185-pound division.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not how this [f*cking] sport works, dude,\u201d Strickland said. \u201cDon\u2019t be a [b*tch], go fight that guy. Now the middleweight division man, from a pure money perspective, you would make more money not fighting for the belt than you would fighting for the belt. Say Chimaev goes and fights Nassourdine in six months. Well, let\u2019s say Chimaev sprains his [f*cking] pinkie like he normally does, now he takes another year off. So it\u2019s like, you\u2019re off for two years where the belt isn\u2019t even in my brain anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n