LAS VEGAS -- Khamzat Chimaev believes he should still be the UFC's middleweight champion despite losing the belt in May, and wants Sean Strickland to accept a rematch if he is serious about making money.
Chimaev (15-1) surrendered the UFC's 185-pound championship to Strickland (30-7) in a narrow split-decision loss at UFC 328. Two judges scored the five-round bout 48-47 for Strickland, while a third had it 48-47 for Chimaev. Strickland landed more total strikes, but Chimaev believes his pressure and heavier punches should have prevailed.
"I won the match but they took my belt," Chimaev told ESPN on Wednesday. "I'm not a judge, but I've never seen the guy who is running backwards win the fight. First time in the history of UFC you see the guy who is running backwards wins the belt."
Chimaev, of Chechnya, claimed that despite the loss, he made "five times" the purse of Strickland and encouraged Strickland to push for an immediate rematch to maximize his earning. Strickland has taken to social media this month to complain about UFC fighter pay and has suggested he will try to get out of his contract as soon as possible to pursue a boxing match against Jake Paul. UFC CEO Dana White has responded that Strickland just signed a new deal in May.
"He should accept the fight against me," Chimaev said. "He'll try to go for other fights and he's crying about money. If he needs the money, he has to fight me."
Chimaev also admitted he had been preparing for a potential move to the 205-pound light heavyweight division prior to his loss in May, which resulted in a more challenging weight cut. Members of his team, including UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan, have said Chimaev struggled during the weight cut and was concerned it would impact his performance. Chimaev told ESPN on Wednesday he doesn't even remember the cut.
"It's always tough, always problems," Chimaev said. "The beginning, I remember. After, I don't remember so much. But it was feeling bad. Whatever happens. If you don't die, it makes you strong."
Chimaev is scheduled to wrestle former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler in the co-main event of RAF on Friday. It will mark his fourth RAF match of 2026, and he's already scheduled for a fifth against RAF crossover champion Colby Covington in November. He said he does have further aspirations in freestyle wrestling, but his main goal is to reclaim his middleweight title.
"First, I want to get my belt back," Chimaev said. "That's the number one, for me, is to get the belt back. After that, we'll see what's going to happen."
