Khamzat Chimaev says he’ll go up as far as it takes. According to DAZN, the former UFC middleweight champion has threatened to follow Sean Strickland to heavyweight, a big escalation in a rivalry that keeps getting hotter. The exact wording of his post wasn’t available in the coverage we reviewed, so we’re reporting it the way DAZN framed it. It’s a threat to chase Strickland up the scale, not an announced move.
The pecking order explains why it stings. Strickland (31-7) is the current UFC middleweight champion and a two-time titleholder, sitting No. 1 at 185 in the Knockout Daily rankings and seventh in the UFC’s pound-for-pound list as of June 16. Chimaev (15-1) is ranked No. 3 in our middleweight rankings and was 12th pound-for-pound as of June 23. Both men last fought on May 9, 2026. One of them walked away holding the belt, and the other is posting about weight classes he has never fought in.
Chimaev has stayed busy in the meantime, mostly on the mat. He signed with Real American Freestyle in April and competes in its cruiserweight division. He pinned Dillon Danis in 44 seconds at RAF 10 on June 13, the fastest pin in RAF history. He then pinned Tyron Woodley in the first round at RAF Moscow on September 5 and beat Gilbert Burns by technical fall at RAF 13 on September 18. He’s scheduled for the co-main event of RAF 14 against Robbie Lawler on October 23.
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The buildup to that card went sideways. A brawl broke out at the RAF 14 press conference involving Danis, Arman Tsarukyan, Chimaev and members of their teams, according to Red Corner MMA. Ariel Helwani wrote on X that “One security guard was bleeding. Total chaos.” Footage shared by Championship Rounds caught Chimaev shouting at Danis, “Hey you don’t know who is your daddy btch! I’ll fck you up.”
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Strickland, meanwhile, showed up to his gym this week in a T-shirt announcing he skips cardio, per a clip Championship Rounds passed along. That’s probably not a man losing sleep over a heavyweight callout.
Heavyweight talk from a guy who wrestles at 205 is a negotiating position, and both men know it. The only fight that matters sits at 185, and Strickland holds the leverage there. Chimaev’s next chance to remind people what he does to grown men comes against Lawler on October 23.
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