Top contenders Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland will both be fighting in June, however they could have been fighting each other.
Former champion Sean Strickland takes on Paulo Costa in an incredible five-round co-main event for UFC 302, a fight that promises to entertain fans inside and outside the octagon. They are two of the sport’s most outrageous and popular characters, and the press conference will be a great show. Both men are coming off the back of losses earlier in the year and aim to bounce back towards middleweight gold.
For Khamzat Chimaev, the fight against Robert Whittaker on June 22nd marks the much-anticipated return of the undefeated Chechen. After an excellent fight last October against former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, many awaited Chimaev’s next fight with some expecting a shot at the title being next. The fight with Usman was incredibly close, with many members of the community scoring it a draw. Therefore it is another eliminator against the former champion Whittaker. The location is Saudi Arabia, and it will be the first UFC event to branch out into Riyadh.
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland?
The rumored bout has been on the table since Strickland won the belt at UFC 293. Back in October 2023, Strickland rejected a short-notice title defense against Chimaev at UFC 294 after Costa pulled out due to injury. Elite coach Eric Nicksick confirmed recently in an interview that talks were going on about the possibility of the fight. However, the location appeared to be a sticking point.
“I know they were hoping for maybe Khamzat [Chimaev], but I don’t think Sean [Strickland] can travel to Saudi Arabia or something. I’m not 100% sure but I know Khamzat’s name was possibly kicked around. You know Khamzat going to be a big draw in Saudi and that fight was more about location than opponent in my opinion.”
Quotes via Sportskeeda
The title is rumored to be up for grabs in August at UFC 305 in Perth between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya. These two fights in June will produce the next contender for a shot at the belt at the back end of the year, one man will need to step forward with a top performance.
Will we ever see Khamzat Chimaev vs Sean Strickland? Do you think both men win their fights in June? Let us know in the comments below!
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