Khamzat Chimaev says he won the Sean Strickland fight, tells him to take a rematch 'if he needs the money'

Khamzat Chimaev believes he should still be the UFC middleweight champion and wants Sean Strickland to accept a rematch if he is serious about making money. The former champion made the comments to ESPN's Brett Okamoto on Wednesday in Las Vegas, where he is preparing for his RAF 14 wrestling match against Robbie Lawler on Friday, October 23.

'I won the match but they took my belt'

Chimaev (15-1) lost the 185-pound title to Strickland (30-7) by split decision at UFC 328 in May. Two judges scored the five-round bout 48-47 for Strickland and the third had it 48-47 for Chimaev. According to ESPN, Strickland landed more total strikes, but Chimaev believes his pressure and heavier punches should have won him the fight.

"I won the match but they took my belt," Chimaev told ESPN. "I'm not a judge, but I've never seen the guy who is running backwards win the fight. First time in the history of UFC you see the guy who is running backwards wins the belt."

'He's crying about money'

Chimaev also claimed that he earned "five times" Strickland's purse for their fight, despite losing, and said a rematch would be the champion's best payday. Strickland has complained on social media this month about UFC fighter pay and has suggested he wants to leave his contract to pursue a boxing match with Jake Paul. UFC CEO Dana White has responded that Strickland signed a new deal in May.

"He should accept the fight against me," Chimaev said. "He'll try to go for other fights and he's crying about money. If he needs the money, he has to fight me."

The rematch is not booked. Sherdog notes that Nassourdine Imavov appears to be positioned for the next shot at Strickland's title.

The weight cut

Chimaev admitted to ESPN that he had been preparing for a possible move to the 205-pound light heavyweight division before the Strickland fight, which made his cut to middleweight harder. Members of his team, including UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan, have said he struggled with the cut. Chimaev said he does not even remember much of it.

"It's always tough, always problems," he said. "The beginning, I remember. After, I don't remember so much. But it was feeling bad. Whatever happens. If you don't die, it makes you strong."

RAF schedule and title goal

Chimaev wrestles Lawler in the co-main event of RAF 14 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. It will be his fourth RAF match of 2026, after wins over Dillon Danis, Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns. He is already booked to challenge Colby Covington for the RAF cruiserweight crossover title at RAF Abu Dhabi on November 14 at Etihad Arena.

Chimaev said he has further goals in freestyle wrestling, but the UFC belt comes first.

"First, I want to get my belt back," he said. "That's the number one, for me, is to get the belt back. After that, we'll see what's going to happen."

One contender who will not stand in his way unless gold is involved is his friend Brendan Allen. Speaking on MMA Junkie Radio, Allen said the two have an agreement: "We're not going to fight each other unless it's for gold."