Sean Strickland addresses talk of Khamzat Chimaev rematch: "Want me to teach you how to cut weight?"
Sean Strickland took to X to answer questions about when he plans to defend his middleweight title and, in doing so, revealed his openness to a Khamzat Chimaev rematch.
Sean Strickland's first title defense on his second stint as UFC middleweight champion has not yet been booked. However, if Strickland has any say on the matter, his first title defense will be a rematch against the very man he dethroned: Khamzat Chimaev.
Sean Strickland mocks Khamzat Chimaev in callout response
Ever since losing to Sean Strickland at UFC 328, in what turned out to be one of the biggest upsets in middleweight history, Khamzat Chimaev has been relentless in his pursuit of an immediate middleweight title rematch with Strickland. Now, months later, Strickland has finally addressed 'Borz's' calls for a rematch in a recent X post, where he answered fan questions about his potential return date. First, he needs to allow his injured shoulder enough time to recover, but once he's ready, he's eyeing Chimaev.
"Y'all keep asking me when I'm gonna fight again. Shoulder is getting solid, need a little longer. As to who I'm fighting.. Chimaev keeps running his f**king mouth. Want me to teach you how to cut weight so you can stop b**ching for a second L?"
Yall keep asking me when Im gonna fight again. Shoulder is getting solid, need a little longer.
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) July 30, 2026
As to who Im fighting.. Chimeav keeps running his fucking mouth.
Want me to teach you how to cut weight so you can stop bitching for a second L?
Strickland's response wasn't lacking in trash talk, as he poked fun at Chimaev's well-known issues with weight cuts. 'Borz's' split-decision loss to Strickland was blamed by some on his apparent plans to fight at light heavyweight, which are believed to have made his weight cut back to middleweight more difficult than usual. In fact, in the immediate aftermath of UFC 328, Dana White claimed that Chimaev had told him he was done fighting at middleweight. However, things changed quickly, and Chimaev has since been hellbent on avenging his first-ever professional loss.
Unfortunately for both men, it is up to the UFC to book Strickland's first title defense, and with Nassourdine Imavov and Dricus du Plessis waiting in the wings, it is anyone's guess who the number one contender will be.
