Sean Strickland: Magomed Ankalaev beats Khamzat Chimaev 'any day of the week'
Sean Strickland reacted to Khamzat Chimaev's desire to move up to light heavyweight.
MORRISTOWN, N. J. – Sean Strickland reacted to Khamzat Chimaev 's desire to move up to light heavyweight.
Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) defends his middleweight title against Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC) in Saturday's UFC 328 ( Paramount+ ) main event at Prudential Center in Newark, N. J. Although Strickland is Chimaev's first title defense at 185 pounds, he already plans on moving up to 205 pounds after UFC 328.
However, having sparred with former champion Magomed Ankalaev , Strickland doesn't see "Borz" achieving championship success there. "Ankalaev would be a f*cking fight," Strickland told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at Wednesday's UFC 328 media day. "Ankalaev, I think, beats Chimaev any day of the week.
Ankalaev will probably be the next champion, hands down. It's crazy that Alex (Pereira beat him). That's how you know that you deserve your ranking and you are a champion because you beat Ankalaev.