Overview
- Chimaev said Tuesday that he will follow Sean Strickland to light heavyweight or heavyweight if needed to secure a rematch, telling Red Corner MMA “wherever he goes we go after him.”
- The pursuit follows Chimaev’s return to the mats at Real American Freestyle 14, where he defeated Robbie Lawler by technical fall and declared he is ready to fight now.
- Strickland is locked in a public pay dispute with the UFC that has delayed any confirmed title defense and created a scheduling logjam in the middleweight division.
- The UFC has floated a Strickland defense against Nassourdine Imavov but has not finalized the bout while the contract standoff continues and Chimaev presses his case.
- Because the promotion controls matchmaking, the resolution of Strickland’s contract and the champion’s next step will determine whether Chimaev, Imavov, Dricus du Plessis, or another contender gets the next title shot and how quickly the division moves again.