Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev have reignited their feud in the leadup to UFC 312, with Strickland calling out the undefeated fighter over his relationship with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Strickland criticized Chimaev for allegedly fleeing Chechnya due to oppression but later returning for personal benefits. According to Strickland, Chimaev eventually realized the consequences of his actions and fled again, likely due to U.S. government scrutiny.
Strickland alleged that Chimaev is now in Saudi Arabia or the Middle East, avoiding potential visa issues in the U.S. He compared Chimaev’s actions to historical figures who supported oppressive regimes for personal gain, referencing Dennis Rodman’s friendship with Kim Jong-un. Strickland argued that dignity should come before financial benefits, something he believes Chimaev lacks.
During a recent interview with Daniel Cormier, Strickland further expressed his thoughts on Chimaev’s behavior, stating, “So Chimaev would come to the gym and there’s a clip of me sarcastically saying, ‘You’re the best.’ He would just go and ragdoll low-level pros. There’s one guy, a 155-pound [fighter], and [Chimaev] says that he has the same style and looks like my opponent. But he has had three fights. Stop beating this guy. There are so many guys in the gym you can fight.”
Strickland continued to criticize Chimaev, calling him a bully and referencing a crypto scam. He emphasized the importance of dignity and integrity, suggesting that Chimaev lacks these qualities.
In response, Khamzat Chimaev fired back at Strickland ahead of UFC 312, taking a personal jab at the former UFC middleweight champion. Chimaev mocked Strickland’s troubled childhood and accused him of constantly complaining. He took to social media and wrote, “Why are you baby crying all the time? Father didn’t give you love, or he showed his love to you too much?”
The feud between Strickland and Chimaev has added an extra layer of anticipation to their upcoming fight at UFC 312. Fans are eagerly awaiting to see how the animosity between the two fighters will play out in the octagon. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing rivalry.
