Khamzat Chimaev: Why Sean Strickland Should Be ‘Worried’ About His Title Shot, According to Daniel Cormier

Khamzat Chimaev may be able to jump the line and get a title shot ahead of Sean Strickland, says UFC Hall of Fame athlete Daniel Cormier. The middleweight title is currently held by South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis but the contender lineup may not be as clear as we once thought.

Sean Strickland or Khamzat Chimaev?

According to UFC President Dana White, after UFC 305 the main event winner would next face the former champion Sean Strickland. Stillknocks’ Dricus Du Plessis defeated Israel Adesanya, and therefore it lines up a rematch between the South African champion against Strickland. But, Daniel Cormier, former two-division champion, says to pump the brakes on this.

Just because Dana White said it does not make it so. At UFC 308, the former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is set to face fan-favorite Khamzat Chimaev. If ‘Borz’ Chimaev is able to get an impressive victory, then he will likely jump the line and get the next title shot. According to Daniel Cormier, Khamzat Chimaev is a more marketable fight for the UFC.

Speaking with Chael Sonnen regarding Khamzat Chimaev and the middleweight title picture, Cormier explained:

“I think the worry for Sean Strickland, is he beat Paulo Costa, Robert Whittaker has also beaten Paulo Costa. [Whittaker’s] also beaten [Ikram]Aliskerov… if [Whittaker] puts Chimaev behind him, it would make a very compelling argument that [Whittaker] should be next. [Du Plessis] wants Whittaker to win. He needs him to win. Because the Robert Whittaker in the fight, how it played out between him and DDP. If Khamzat [Chimaev] wins now, now you have something to worry about.

“Because now you have this undefeated guy, who for so many years, we thought it was only a matter of time until he became a world champion. Khamzat immediately looked like a guy who would be a champion, you could see it, and that would make me concerned if I’m Sean Strickland…he shouldn’t feel so good, because when Dana [White] speaks, he may go ‘This guy’s next! This is who we have’. But there’s a tone to his voice that makes you believe that what he’s telling you is certain. I didn’t hear that tone, I didn’t hear that for-sure tone for Sean Strickland…so I do believe that there’s room for Chimaev to work his way in there.” [Ht BJPenn]