A former UFC middleweight champion believes Sean Strickland has a really good chance of dethroning Khamzat Chimaev.
“Borz” will make the first defense of his middleweight crown at UFC 328, and is slated to face Strickland in the main event.
Previously, Chimaev was rumored to take on No. 2 contender Nassourdine Imavov, who is riding a five-fight win streak. However, both fighters wanted to avoid this matchup due to personal ties and the relationship between their countries, Dagestan and Chechnya.
Meanwhile, Strickland most recently stopped the surging Anthony Hernandez in Round 3 by TKO at UFC Houston. A few weeks after this big win, the promotion announced that “Tarzan” is getting the next middleweight title shot.
Dricus du Plessis, who has faced Sean Strickland twice and been on the winning end both times, believes “Tarzan” has what it takes to beat “Borz.”
In a recent interview with SA Boxing Talk, the South African stated that Strickland has better striking than Chimaev. He also added that whenever “Tarzan” gets taken down, he can scramble back to his feet real quick. “Stillknocks” believes this one ability will majorly help Strickland against Chimaev. He said:
“In striking, Strickland definitely beats Khamzat, for sure. Khamzat gives you problems when he has your back. Strickland, what he does brilliantly, I took him down around 7 times. The way he gets up to holding down is incredibly hard. At Xtreme Couture, they specialize in [that ability]. Strickland is a lot stronger than people might think. I think he has a very good chance in that fight.”
Check out Dricus du Plessis’ comments below:
Kamaru Usman wants Khamzat Chimaev to ‘show full arsenal’ against Sean Strickland at UFC 328
Former UFC welterweight titleholder Kamaru Usman, who has fought both Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev, has also given his two cents on the UFC 328 headliner.
On Pound 4 Pound, Usman reminded fans of Chimaev’s three-round slugfest with Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 and also that Chimaev has two Round 1 knockout victories in the UFC. Usman believes Chimaev is too focused on wrestling, and most of the time, this sole skill set is enough to win most bouts.
However, if “Borz” fails to take Sean Strickland down at UFC 328, he has to go the other way round, which is stand and bang with “Tarzan.” Usman has therefore advised Chimaev to stay ready mentally for a quick change in game plan, and show his full arsenal against Strickland, if takedowns prove ineffective:
Khamzat has really good striking. Like really good. Let’s not forget, it was one shot, put someone away at one point. Or he stood with Gilbert Burns, and he dropped him a few times… Khamzat can strike too, and now we’re seeing videos of him going with light heavyweights, and he’s kind of outstriking them.”
“The Nigerian Nightmare” added:
So I think it’s a mentality thing. If he can switch the mentality to be a free mixed martial artist to where it’s not, ‘I have to get this guy down, I have to hold him down, or else I might lose this,’ I think we really start to see that arsenal. I think this could be that fight to make it happen because we know if you can’t get Strickland down, and he starts marching downhill, it’s a problem.”
Check out Kamaru Usman’s comments about UFC 328: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland below (32:52):
