Overview
- Sean Strickland stopped Anthony Hernandez by third-round TKO at UFC Houston, then called out champion Khamzat Chimaev and made disputed claims about past sparring.
- Nassourdine Imavov labeled Strickland a “clown,” pushed for a rematch of their 2023 meeting, and escalated rhetoric by vowing to leave him “dead inside the cage.”
- Imavov said the UFC explored booking him against Chimaev for December and then February, but those plans stalled due to a Chimaev injury and remain without final approval.
- Strickland’s coach Eric Nicksick condemned public talk of training-room results and outlined a game plan for Chimaev that centers on stuffing takedowns, disrupting chain wrestling, and making entries costly.
- Debate over the next title shot has intensified, with Nicksick arguing Strickland’s finish and profile could vault him over Imavov, Chimaev trading posts on X with Strickland, and no bout yet announced.