Khamzat Chimaev calls for fights with Sean Strickland, 3 others for UFC return

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Khamzat Chimaev
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MAY 09: Khamzat Chimaev of Russia prepares to face Sean Strickland in the UFC middleweight championship fight during the UFC 328 event at Prudential Center on May 09, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Khamzat Chimaev says he just wants to fight, and he doesn’t seem to care if a title is on the line or not.

Chimaev, who lost the UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland in his first title defense at UFC 328 in May, has been calling for a return match with Strickland for the past several months.

If “Borz” doesn’t get the shot, he has three other names for his return list.

“I’m ready,” Chimaev wrote on Twitter. “Let me know when you are ready Sean, Dricus [du Plessis], Nassourdine [Imavov], Caio [Borralho].”

The loss to Strickland was Chimaev’s first as a pro fighter.

As far as who he could compete with next if it’s not Strickland, Imavov has certainly made a case to get a championship opportunity following his dominant decision win over Borralho at UFC Paris this past September.

Du Plessis lost the title to Chimaev in a lopsided decision at UFC 319 a year ago. The former champ bounced back with a one-sided victory of his own against past welterweight champ Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma City in July.

Borralho was able to get back in the win column himself with a clear-cut victory over Reinier de Ridder at March’s UFC 326 event.