Khamzat Chimaev Fires Back at Sean Strickland Over Training‑Camp Injuries

Sean "Tarzan" Strickland recently took to Instagram to share a series of pictures from his most recent training camp, showing a swollen knee that had required extra treatment. In the caption he lamented how grueling MMA preparation can be and hinted that he might dip his toes into boxing instead.

Not long after, Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev jumped onto the conversation, posting a cheeky reply that read, "You are biggest bull‑, this s happens with all of us, don’t be a b*, this is your champ?" The tone was unmistakably mocking, as Chimaev tried to downplay Strickland’s pain by saying injuries are just part of every fighter’s life.

The back‑and‑forth didn’t stop there. Strickland, who recently dethroned Chimaev at UFC 328 to claim the middleweight belt, also made headlines for demanding a $1 million purse for his next bout. The UFC, according to reports, countered with a $400,000‑to‑show/$400,000‑to‑win offer, prompting Strickland to threaten quitting the promotion altogether.

Enter former two‑division champion Daniel Cormier, who took to his YouTube channel to plead with the UFC not to lose the outspoken American. Cormier praised Strickland’s “great fighter” credentials while acknowledging his polarizing personality, adding that the organization would feel a noticeable void without him.

Looking ahead, Strickland is set to test Nassourdine Imavov next, while Chimaev – who had earlier floated a move up to light heavyweight – appears eager to get another shot at the middleweight crown. Whether the two will meet again remains to be seen, but the verbal sparring has certainly added extra intrigue to the division.