Back to the MMA Newsfeed

Khamzat Chimaev heaps praise on Sean Strickland after UFC title victory: ‘He works hard, he deserves it’

Ahead of his own Octagon comeback next month at UFC 294, surging welterweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has showered praise on newly-minted undisputed middleweight champion, Sean Strickland – claiming the Covina native “deserves” every part of his title reign.

Chimaev, the current number four ranked welterweight contender, may see himself vying for middleweight division spoils in the near future, making a divisional return at UFC 294 next month in a potential title-eliminator opposite one-time championship chaser, Paulo Costa in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

READ MORE: Official - Ex-Champion Tony Ferguson set to fight Paddy Pimblett in December return at UFC 296

As for Strickland, the Xtreme Couture staple managed to land undisputed middleweight gold at UFC 293 at the beginning of this month, turning in a unanimous decision shutout victory over two-time champion, Israel Adesanya, defeating the City Kickboxing staple in a huge shock win for the challenger.