Chimaev 'obsessed' with rematch vs. Strickland
Key takeaways
- Two judges scored it 48-47 for Strickland, while a third had it 48-47 in favor of Chimaev.
- At Saturday's postfight news conference, UFC CEO Dana White revealed Chimaev had told him he wanted to move up to light heavyweight.
- It's unclear what the UFC or Strickland's interest would be in an immediate rematch.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
The five-round bout was very tightly contested. Two judges scored it 48-47 for Strickland, while a third had it 48-47 in favor of Chimaev. The grudge match was one of the biggest fights of the year. The UFC implemented additional security measures during fight week due to the animosity between the fighters.
At Saturday's postfight news conference, UFC CEO Dana White revealed Chimaev had told him he wanted to move up to light heavyweight. Later that night, however, Chimaev tweeted, "See you soon again," and his team confirmed he will pursue the middleweight rematch ahead of any change in weight class.
It's unclear what the UFC or Strickland's interest would be in an immediate rematch. White called Chimaev's potential move up in weight "exciting," while Strickland acknowledged his first title defense would likely come against French contender Nassourdine Imavov.