Sean Strickland considers Yaroslav Amosov a better grappler than Khamzat Chimaev

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has praised Ukrainian welterweight Yaroslav Amosov's grappling credentials, claiming they surpass those of Khamzat Chimaev. Strickland, currently training at American Top Team in Florida to help prepare teammate Johnny Eblen for an upcoming bout, shared mat time with Amosov (30-1) and came away impressed by his wrestling prowess.

Amosov, who is 5-1 in the UFC after joining the promotion on the regional circuit, has finished both of his Octagon opponents via submission. His most recent victory, a submission win over Joel Alvarez, occurred on the same card as Strickland's title win over Chimaev at UFC 328 in May. Amosov described the training exchange positively on his YouTube channel, calling Strickland a "hard partner, hard champion, but crazy, funny crazy."

Strickland's assessment carries added weight given his recent high-profile victory over Chimaev. The middleweight champion was a significant underdog heading into that title fight, but Chimaev exhausted himself visibly in the second round, abandoning his wrestling-heavy approach and allowing Strickland to dominate the striking exchanges en route to a decision victory.

Amosov's path to the UFC came after he parted ways with Bellator MMA following his sole career loss to Jason Jackson in 2023. His undefeated submission record in the UFC positions him as an emerging threat at welterweight, and Strickland's endorsement of his grappling skills underscores the caliber of competition he represents within the sport.