Khamzat Chimaev is experiencing something few thought he would ever face: the sting of defeat and a burning desire for redemption. The 32-year-old suffered the first loss of his career on Saturday during his first middleweight title defense against Sean Strickland. Though he entered the fight as the heavy favorite, the night unfolded in a way almost no one anticipated.
In a grueling, back-and-forth battle, Strickland’s relentless jab, higher striking output, and disciplined takedown defense proved decisive. After the fight, an unexpected moment occurred—the two fighters appeared to settle their differences. But now that the dust has settled, Chimaev has only one goal: a rematch to reclaim what he lost.
“Let me know when you are ready [Sean Strickland],” Chimaev posted on X.
Given how close the contest was, a rematch is certainly within the realm of possibility. However, when it might happen remains uncertain. Not to mention, UFC CEO Dana White told reporters that Strickland plans to move up to light heavyweight after his latest victory, as the weight cut for ‘Tarzan’ seemed increasingly difficult this time around, potentially leading him to compete at 205 pounds.
Chimaev has previously expressed his own desire to move to light heavyweight, which could set up a meeting in that division. But Khamzat Chimaev often faces long periods of inactivity between fights, making a immediate rematch seem distant. Meanwhile, contenders like Nassourdine Imavov and Brendan Allen are also lining up for a title shot.
Immediately after becoming a two-time middleweight champion, Sean Strickland made it clear who he wanted next. ‘Tarzan’ stated that rankings should dictate title shots, not popularity or hype.
“I truly believe in UFC rankings,” Strickland told reporters. “I think they f***ing matter. I hate when guys jump it. So if that’s who the UFC [want]. If that’s the rankings. That’s who it is. Let’s go.”
When fans caught wind of Chimaev’s rematch plea, they were far from supportive.
Fans quickly dismissed Chimaev’s callout. One user posted: “He was ready last night, apparently you weren’t.” Chimaev’s usual ground dominance was surprisingly absent.
Another commenter suggested Chimaev may have suffered memory loss. “Dude got hit so hard he doesn’t realize the fight already happened,” the user wrote. Chimaev had earlier tweeted “See you again soon” right after his loss.
“Seems your head hasn’t recovered from the punches you received, bro,” another fan noted. But asking for a rematch is not uncommon in combat sports.
Someone else felt the need to remind Chimaev of the outcome. “Dude, you lost… ready for what? That was last night,” the fan pointed out. However, the UFC might prefer a more entertaining fighter holding the belt, which could mean Chimaev will have to wait much longer.
The next user was firmly against a rematch. “To do what exactly? Bear Hug all match?” they asked. If the rematch does happen, Khamzat Chimaev will likely focus more on his wrestling and attempt to win the fight on the ground.
That said, Chimaev has fallen victim to the middleweight curse, where most champions entering the title fight on a nine-fight win streak have lost the bout. Can Chimaev bounce back? Only time will tell.