Following his closely contested split-decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328, Khamzat Chimaev has shed light on his surprisingly cordial post-fight demeanor towards his rival. The lead-up to their middleweight title clash was marked by intense personal animosity, including a pre-fight altercation where Chimaev shoved Strickland.
However, once inside the Octagon, the dynamic shifted dramatically. The former training partners, now fierce competitors, exchanged multiple respectful touches of gloves throughout their grueling five-round main event. This sportsmanship continued after the decision, with Chimaev notably placing the championship belt around Strickland’s waist and engaging in a mutual display of respect.
Chimaev explained this unexpected shift in a social media post, attributing it to Strickland’s apology for his pre-fight trash talk. According to Chimaev, when Strickland approached him and sought forgiveness, he was willing to let go of the animosity.
“And regarding that guy, he said a lot of unnecessary things,” Chimaev stated on Instagram stories. “People were asking why I shook his hand and why I put the belt on him afterward. We don’t have the habit of talking or fighting after a loss. If we fight, we fight inside the cage, and we fight as best as we can. What Allah has decided is no longer in our control. That guy lowered his head and asked for forgiveness. If a person asks for forgiveness, I can forgive him. I’m not an oppressor, so I would refuse to forgive.”
Strickland himself publicly acknowledged his excessive pre-fight remarks. He was observed apologizing to Chimaev’s corner and later, in his Octagon interview, expressed regret for the harsh words, stating, “I went too f*cking hard. I’ll admit it. I respect all of you guys. Chechnya has great fighters. They’re savage. He’s a f*cking savage.”