After UFC 308, Daniel Cormier believes Khamzat Chimaev likely has leapfrogged Sean Strickland as No. 1 middleweight contender.
Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) ran through former champion Robert Whittaker (27-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC) for a first-round submission in Saturday’s co-main event in Abu Dhabi. Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) was expected to be next in line for a title-fight rematch with champion Dricus Du Plessis, but Cormier isn’t so sure after Chimaev made quick work of Whittaker.
“Khamzat Chimaev earned himself a title shot, or at least he should have,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “He submitted Robert Whittaker in the first round – first round! Went across the octagon, double-legged him, took him down, choked him, and broke his jaw – broke his jaw! With a squeeze from a rear-naked choke. It was nuts to see him do that to a guy that was the generation before him, was one of the guys. Robert Whittaker for a long time has been one of the guys. When he wasn’t the champion, he was ranked No. 1, or No. 2. Chimaev is ranked No. 12 right now.
“He went and beat him in the first round. And if you’re Sean Strickland, that result worries you. Why? Because Mick Maynard is sitting next to me and jumps up and runs to Dana, and they start talking with Hunter (Campbell). Dana immediately runs over to follow Chimaev to talk to him. That’s scary to a guy that’s considered the No. 1 contender because that tells you things are happening. Khamzat Chimaev, to me, solidified himself as the No. 1 contender at 185 pounds. His wrestling, his top control, his mentality, his approach, it’s not like many things we have seen.”
Since losing his middleweight title in a split decision loss to Du Plessis at UFC 297 in January, Strickland rebounded with a unanimous decision win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June. He previously stated that he refuses to take another fight unless it’s for the title and is still confident that he’s next for Du Plessis.
“Understand one thing…. I am next in line….. Its been said, its been written… January/February me and @dricusduplessis are scrapping Go back to Chechnya and wait a few months….. wait.. sorry UAE… you’re not allowed in Chechnya…But hey crypto scams while you wait.”
“Khamzat Chimaev should be fighting for the belt next,” Cormier added. “He really should. I don’t know what the UFC is going to do, but if they say, ‘Hey, you’re next,’ I don’t know that Sean has much in terms of reasons how he can complain to the organization about how they’re wrong.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.
