Khamzat Chimaev says UFC champ Sean Strickland ‘needs to be afraid’ of him, expects title shot subsequent

Khamzat Chimaev has issued UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland a warning.

Strickland (28-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC) makes his first title protection towards Dricus Du Plessis (20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) within the UFC 297 headliner Jan. 20 at Scotiabank Area in Toronto. Chimaev has skilled with Strickland earlier than at Xtreme Couture and praised him for being an excellent fighter. Strickland took purpose at Belal Muhammad for displaying Palestine assist throughout it’s ongoing battle with Israel however didn’t remark when Chimaev did.

Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) was requested if he thinks Strickland is afraid of him.

“I don’t know, man,” Chimaev mentioned in an interview with Mohammed Hijab. “He needs to be afraid. Inshallah we combat with everybody, so the fights within the cage is just not that massive factor. If we will make some folks blissful who’s going by way of onerous instances and all Muslims watching us and me and Khabib, all of the Muslim fighters, Belal.

“We all know the entire children, our youngsters, they’re watching. They need to be like us, need to be sturdy folks. Inshallah we attempt to be an excellent image for them. Sean Strickland, all these guys, they need to be afraid of us. We combat not only for us like they do. We combat for all Muslims.”

Chimaev was declared No. 1 contender when he defeated former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 294, and he expects to be subsequent in line for the winner of Strickland vs. Du Plessis.

“A hundred percent,” Chimaev mentioned. “He (Strickland) has an excellent fighter who he’s preventing with, Du Plessis, and if he wins towards this man, for positive we’re going to combat one hundred pc. They promised for me that combat, so now we’re going to attend who’s successful the combat after which take the belt.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 297.