Chimaev vs. Strickland: rematch at the end of 2026

Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland are preparing for a rematch, which could take place before the end of 2026, finally dotting the i's in the issue of dominance in the UFC middleweight division. The Russian fighter, who leads the division rating, is aiming for revenge after his defeat in January 2024. Then Strickland won by decision of the judges, but the circumstances of that fight left a bitter aftertaste: Chimaev entered the Octagon on short notice, without having time to conduct a full training camp.

Now that both athletes are in optimal physical shape, the outcome of their meeting will be an objective indicator of skill level, and not the result of a coincidence. Chimaev successfully rehabilitated from the injury and publicly stated his desire to immediately fight for the title, not wanting to wait. The UFC is keeping the date secret for now, but reliable sources within the promotion confirm that negotiations are in full swing.