Overview
- Magomedov beat Michel Pereira by unanimous decision in Baku on June 27, 2026, in a bout that many observers said featured repeated hair-pulling that went unpenalized.
- After the fight Magomedov told Red Corner MMA that Strickland is a “domestic champion” who will not fight outside the United States and would tell opponents to come to America.
- Strickland responded on X by mocking Magomedov and noting that Magomedov fought one of his teammates, writing that “there are levels to this.”
- Matchmaking barriers make a title bout unlikely because most U.S. athletic commissions will not license fighters who are blind in one eye and Strickland has said he will only defend the belt on U.S. soil, while Magomedov is not currently in the official top‑15 rankings.
- The exchange adds a personal edge—Pereira trains with Strickland at Xtreme Couture—but for now the dispute is rhetorical and the practical hurdles of medical clearance, ranking and location are the main obstacles to a fight.