Khamzat Chimaev accuses Sean Strickland of avoiding rematch

Khamzat Chimaev is calling out Sean Strickland for a middleweight rematch following their UFC 328 bout earlier this year. Chimaev posted on Instagram with photos from the five-round clash, captioning: "Someone is running, I'm ready, just tell me where and when I'll be there."

Chimaev's loss to Strickland marked the first blemish on his professional record. The Swedish fighter had previously captured the UFC middleweight title with a dominant unanimous decision over South African Dricus Du Plessis, leveraging his acclaimed ground game to dethrone the champion. However, Chimaev appeared to gas out in his title defense against Strickland, delivering a lackluster performance that cost him the belt.

Strickland has not publicly addressed a potential rematch. The American revealed he is recovering from a shoulder injury and targets an Octagon return later this year. Since defeating Chimaev, Strickland has taken verbal shots at his former opponent but remains noncommittal on running it back.

Meanwhile, the middleweight title picture is crowded. At UFC Oklahoma City on July 18, two former middleweight champions—Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman—collide in what could reshape the contender landscape. Both have victories over Strickland, further complicating any immediate path to a Chimaev rematch.