Sean Strickland wants Khamzat Chimaev to know he’s next in line for a middleweight title shot.
Strickland beat Irsael Adeanya to become the 185lb king in September 2023, but he suffered a razor-thin split decision defeat in his first defense against Dricus du Plessis, who has since tapped out Adesanya to defend the belt.
A rumored rematch is expected to take place at UFC 312 in Australia on February 9. Unfortunately for Strickland, nothing is set in stone and now he’s got competition from UFC 308 star Khamzat Chimaev.
Chimaev submitted Robert Whittaker in the UFC 308 co-main event before using his post-fight mic time to call for an immediate title shot, which many fight fans believe he is due after an incredible win in his toughest test to date.
Sean Strickland insists he’s getting next shot at Dricus du Plessis
In the immediate aftermath of Chimaev’s big win, he received a not-so-nice message from Strickland.
The 33-year-old took to X – formerly known as Twitter – to tell ‘Borz’ that he will have to wait for a middleweight title shot because he’s already earned his by beating Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June.
He tweeted: “Understand one thing…. I am next in line….. Its been said, its been written… January/February me and Dricus du Plessis are scrapping.
“Go back to Chechnya and wait a few months….. wait.. sorry UAE… you’re not allowed in Chechnya…But hey crypto scams while you wait.”
Dana White previously claimed Strickland is next in line at 185lbs, but he changed his tune after UFC 308.
The UFC boss seemed unsure about who Du Plessis will face next during his post-fight press conference.
“That’s a good question. Call me on Tuesday,” White said when asked who will face the South African superstar next.
Strickland seems sure of his position, but White doesn’t, and only time will tell who’ll get the next middleweight title shot.
Dana White provides an update on Robert Whittaker’s injury
Chimaev beat Whittaker with a face crank. It’s a submission that doesn’t typically earn the tap from UFC fighters, especially against someone as tough as ‘The Reaper, but Whittaker quickly tapped out at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Talk immediately turned to a serious jaw injury, which was confirmed when Daniel Cormier shared a graphic picture on the UFC 308 broadcast. It showed three of Whittaker’s bottom teeth had been caved in by Chimaev’s tight squeeze.
“As soon as that happened, I picked up the phone and I called the truck,” White said.
“They’re like, ‘Yeah, his jaw popped’. So, I knew what happened, because I didn’t know what happened either or why he tapped so quick.
“We were like, ‘He didn’t even have the choke in’. It was weird. Yeah, he popped his jaw.
“When you do that, it splits and the teeth get all messed up. Rob has that right now.
White was unable to say for sure what Whittaker’s injury was, but he was confident of one thing.
“He added: “I don’t know yet. It’s not good!
“When your teeth are going [in different directions] it’s not good.”