Khamzat Chimaev offers Sean Strickland $1 million for UFC rematch

Khamzat Chimaev has entered a bidding war with fellow middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov to secure a rematch with Sean Strickland, the current UFC middleweight champion. Chimaev posted on social media that he would pay Strickland $1 million to fight him again, doubling Imavov's offer of $500,000 that came just hours earlier. The monetary incentives stem from reports that Strickland is demanding $1 million for his next title defense, while the UFC has only offered $400,000 to show and $400,000 to win.

Strickland (31-7) pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent UFC history at UFC 328 when he defeated the heavily favored Chimaev via split decision to capture the middleweight title. Chimaev (15-1), fighting for the belt for the first time in his career, appeared to fade as the bout progressed and struggled to impose his typically dominant wrestling. The loss marked the first professional defeat for "Borz."

Meanwhile, Strickland's next title defense is reportedly set for early 2027 against Imavov, with only the financial details remaining to be finalized. The bout was initially rumored for UFC 335 in December but has since been pushed back. Imavov's creative approach of offering his own money as an incentive if Strickland beats him—and Chimaev's willingness to match that financial commitment—illustrates the high stakes and intrigue surrounding a potential Chimaev rematch. Whether Strickland will accept either offer or proceed with the Imavov bout remains to be seen.