Chimaev Calls for Strickland Rematch

Khamzat Chimaev wants another chance at Sean Strickland, and he says he would accept the fight immediately. His response to the first defeat was not a list of excuses or a move away from middleweight. Instead, Chimaev described the rematch as the opportunity he is waiting for and made clear that his plans remain tied to the 185-pound division.

Strickland defeated Chimaev at UFC 328, interrupting a rise that had made Chimaev one of the division’s central figures. Asked during a RAF media appearance how soon he would run it back, Chimaev answered, “Even tomorrow.” The line captures his urgency, but it should not be mistaken for a booking. The UFC has not announced a return date or opponent for him.

Chimaev also rejected the idea that a loss makes him a defeated person. His view is that mistakes happen, training continues and another opportunity can change the story. He declined to build his explanation around the weight cut or injuries, even though both subjects have followed him throughout his career. That leaves the competitive result where it belongs: Strickland won, and Chimaev wants to prove he can answer it.

Middleweight remains Chimaev’s priority

The future of Chimaev’s weight class became uncertain after UFC 328. Dana White had previously said the contender discussed moving up, prompting questions about whether his next appearance might come at light heavyweight. Chimaev’s latest comments point in the opposite direction. He said he is not going anywhere until he has gone through everyone at 185 pounds.

That commitment matters because the title picture may move without him. Nassourdine Imavov has been linked to a possible December fight with Strickland, although no official announcement has been made. Chimaev did not dismiss Imavov’s position. He called him a contender who had waited for his chance and said he would face whoever emerged from that matchup.

The two positions can coexist. Chimaev’s first choice is an immediate rematch with the champion. If Strickland fights Imavov first, Chimaev says he is prepared to pursue the winner instead. What he has not provided is a guaranteed timeline. Matchmaking, medical clearance and the UFC’s wider schedule will determine whether his preferred route is available.

There is a useful change in tone from some of Chimaev’s earlier callouts. He remains blunt and confident, but he acknowledged that human beings make mistakes. He did not claim the loss should be overturned or that Strickland’s victory was meaningless. His argument is simply that one night should not end his pursuit of the title.

A wrestling date comes before his UFC return

While the Octagon plan remains unsettled, Chimaev is scheduled to compete against former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in a RAF wrestling event in Moscow. That assignment keeps him active and puts his grappling under a separate spotlight, but it does not replace an MMA fight or decide his place in the middleweight rankings.

The Woodley booking may also offer a useful bridge between the defeat and Chimaev’s next training camp. He can compete without rushing into another UFC date, then turn his attention back to the division once the promotion’s plans become clearer. There is still risk in any competitive appearance, so the wrestling match should not be treated as a formality.

For now, the rematch request is the real news. Chimaev is not announcing a signed contract, and he is not promising that Strickland will be next. He is identifying the result he most wants to correct and the division in which he intends to do it.

• Chimaev said he would accept a second fight with Strickland immediately.
• He intends to remain at middleweight rather than move divisions after the loss.
• If Strickland faces Imavov first, Chimaev says he wants the winner.

The path back may not be as direct as Chimaev would prefer. Strickland has his own options, Imavov has built a case, and the UFC controls the final decision. What is no longer ambiguous is Chimaev’s response to his first meeting with the champion: stay at middleweight, keep training and seek the chance to make the result different.