Chimaev Pushes Hard for Immediate Rematch With Strickland After UFC 328 Loss.

Khamzat Chimaev is laser-focused on reclaiming the middleweight title after narrowly losing to Sean Strickland at UFC 328, with his team saying an immediate rematch is the only fight he wants next. According to a statement provided to ESPN, Chimaev has no interest in exploring other matchups despite speculation about a move to light heavyweight.

“The rematch with Sean Strickland is the only fight that Khamzat wants,” Chimaev’s team said. “He is obsessed with it. That’s the only fight he will accept right now.” Chimaev dropped a razor-close split decision to Strickland in Saturday’s main event in Newark, New Jersey, surrendering the UFC middleweight championship in his first title defense. Two judges scored the bout 48-47 for Strickland, while the third saw it in favor of Chimaev. The matchup had been one of the UFC’s most heated rivalries in recent memory, prompting heightened security measures throughout fight week because of repeated tensions between the camps. Despite the hostility leading into the event, the tone shifted after the final bell. Chimaev placed the championship belt around Strickland’s waist in a show of respect, while Strickland later indicated the feud between the two had come to an end. Following the fight, UFC CEO Dana White revealed that Chimaev mentioned the possibility of moving up to light heavyweight. Chimaev later fueled rematch speculation with a social media post reading, “See you soon again,” before his team clarified that his priority remains another shot at Strickland. Whether the UFC moves directly into a rematch remains uncertain. White described the idea of Chimaev competing at light heavyweight as “exciting,” while Strickland acknowledged that top contender Nassourdine Imavov could be next in line for a title opportunity. Chimaev, now 15-1, suffered the first defeat of his UFC career in the loss. Strickland improved to 31-7 and secured his first successful defense of the middleweight crown.