“Fake Beef:” Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev Restart Feud, But Fans Say: “We Ain’t Falling for It Again”
Sean Strickland is looking to defend his UFC middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev, but this time fans aren’t buying the fake bad blood. Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev are trading shots again, but MMA fans have seen this script before. With Strickland recovering from a shoulder injury and a UFC middleweight title rematch in the conversation, their new X exchange has been met with skepticism rather than excitement.
Sean Strickland vs. Khamzat Chimaev rematch?
Strickland gave followers an update on July 30, saying his shoulder is improving but that he needs “a little longer” before returning. He then pointed directly at former champion Chimaev as a possible next opponent.
“Yall keep asking me when Im gonna fight again. Shoulder is getting solid, need a little longer. As to who Im fighting.. Chimeav keeps running his fucking mouth. Want me to teach you how to cut weight so you can stop bitching for a second L?” Strickland wrote.
The champion has said the shoulder issue stemmed from a joint separation suffered shortly before UFC 328. He still went five rounds with Chimaev in Newark on May 9 and took the belt by split decision.
Chimaev did not leave the post unanswered. The former titleholder accused Strickland of restarting the talk and returned to a theme from their first meeting: Strickland’s post-fight apology. “This coward started talking again, when you see me again, ask for forgiveness, you’re good at that, the most important thing is don’t cry like a girl next time,” Chimaev wrote.
Chimaev previously said he accepted Strickland’s apology after the title fight because Strickland “lowered his head and asked for forgiveness.” Chimaev has also called for a rematch, including one in Abu Dhabi.
Fans Remember the Fake Bad Blood
The problem for the pair is the ending of their first feud. Their lead-up featured heated online exchanges, personal insults and added security around fight-week events, yet the mood changed inside the cage. They touched gloves, showed respect during the bout, embraced afterward, and Chimaev put the championship belt around Strickland’s waist.
Strickland subsequently acknowledged that parts of the hostility were intended to help promote the fight, a reversal that drew criticism from fans and fighters. Nate Diaz called the pair “fake f—ing puppets” after seeing them move from public hostility to handshakes and hugs.
That history shaped the response to the latest posts. One X user wrote, “We ain’t falling for that fake beef shit again big dawg.” Another added, “You got whooped and bowed down to him and then wrapped the belt around his waist. We all saw it.”
Others argued that Nassourdine Imavov should get the next title opportunity instead: “We don’t wanna watch your fake beef again. It’s @imavov1’s turn. Khamzat needs to win a couple fights to earn another title shot!”
The reaction was similar on Reddit, where one post read: “Didn’t both Strickland and Chimaev admit the beef in the last fight was all fake? Here they are doing it again.” Another put it more simply: “No one’s falling for this gimmick again.”
Strickland beat Chimaev by a narrow split decision, Chimaev had been unbeaten before UFC 328, and Strickland’s recovery will determine when the division’s next title fight can take place. The difference this time is clear as fans may watch a second fight, but they are unlikely to treat every social-media insult as proof of any real rivalry.
