Khamzat Chimaev calls for fights with Sean Strickland, 3 others for UFC return

Khamzat Chimaev is eager to return to action following his upset loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in May, where the Swedish fighter surrendered his middleweight title in his first championship defense. Rather than waiting idly for a rematch, Chimaev has publicly called out four potential opponents on social media, signaling he is ready to fight regardless of whether a title opportunity materializes.

Chimaev's primary target remains Strickland, the man who dethroned him with a stunning performance at UFC 328. However, should "Borz" not secure that rematch, he has identified three alternative middleweight contenders: Dricus du Plessis, Nassourdine Imavov, and Caio Borralho. The loss marked Chimaev's first career defeat, making his response all the more significant for a fighter accustomed to dominance.

Each of the named contenders has made his own case for a shot at the title. Imavov earned considerable respect with a dominant decision victory over Borralho at UFC Paris in September, positioning himself as a viable championship challenger. Du Plessis, the former middleweight champion whom Chimaev defeated via lopsided decision at UFC 319 roughly a year ago, has momentum of his own following a convincing win over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma City in July. Borralho, meanwhile, returned to the winning column with a decisive victory over Reinier de Ridder at UFC 326 in March.

Chimaev's willingness to face any of these opponents without waiting for a title shot demonstrates his hunger to climb back toward championship contention and erase the memory of his first professional loss.