Sean Strickland has renewed his criticism of reigning UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev as attention shifts to UFC Houston, where Strickland faces Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez on February 21.
Chimaev, who claimed the middleweight title at UFC 319 in August 2025, has yet to book his first title defense. His ongoing absence has sparked frustrations among fighters and observers, with Strickland voicing some of the division’s most pointed critiques. “You brought a guy in that fights once a year. He’s best friends with a warlord. Dude gets gifted G‑Wagons,” Strickland told ESPN. He emphasized that Chimaev’s privileged circumstances, including ties to influential figures and access to wealth, have reduced the incentive to defend his belt or compete regularly.
Strickland contrasted Chimaev’s inactivity with his own preference for consistent competition, stating, “The guy doesn’t need to fight. It’s like the belt isn’t even in my brain anymore. I’ll make significantly more money just fighting.” Strickland expressed concern that the division’s momentum is being lost as contenders wait for the champion’s next move.
Chimaev’s title reign began amid high expectations that new blood at the top would reinvigorate the division. Instead, setbacks and injuries cited by Chimaev’s camp have contributed to delays and heightened scrutiny. Allegations of “camping” on the title have grown more prevalent as months pass without a defense, casting doubts on the championship’s current relevance and value.
Strickland’s comments draw a sharp contrast to his own approach. After winning the belt from Israel Adesanya at UFC 296 and losing it to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312, Strickland returned from a disciplinary suspension to quickly re-enter the contender conversation. His style remains active and direct, while his willingness to fight any opponent has made him a fixture at the top of the division.
Several middleweight contenders have echoed Strickland’s frustration with Chimaev’s inactivity, warning that a stagnant title picture may erode the position’s prestige. Without a visible path forward or clarity from the champion’s camp, the division risks further loss of momentum, leaving fighters and fans searching for progress.
Despite his criticism, Strickland maintains he remains the most difficult matchup for Chimaev. “I think I’m probably the only one that could beat Chimaev,” Strickland said. Notably, he also credited Hernandez as a significant challenge. “I honestly think Fluffy is a better wrestler than Chimaev,” he stated, highlighting Hernandez’s underappreciated grappling credentials and suggesting that few in the division can match his opponent’s work rate and durability over five rounds.
Strickland’s public remarks have fueled discussion about contenders willing to stay active and bring urgency back to the middleweight hierarchy. Others within the division are quietly assessing the situation, aware that a shake-up is possible should Chimaev’s next move remain unclear and new title challengers emerge from upcoming bouts.
The UFC has not offered an official timeline for Chimaev’s next fight or defense, and the nature of his prolonged absence remains opaque. The questions of whether injury, contract issues, or simple lack of motivation are to blame continue to circulate. Meanwhile, Strickland’s own standing will depend on both his performance against Hernandez and how the promotion responds to mounting pressure for a more active champion.
Should Hernandez prevail in Houston, the changing matchup dynamics could provide a fresh challenge to the division’s current order, potentially ending the months-long logjam and offering clarity as fighters angle for title contention.
Strickland’s criticism underscores a period of uncertainty for the UFC middleweight title. As anticipation builds for the Houston event, much of the focus will remain not only on Strickland versus Hernandez, but also on how the top of the division moves forward while its champion stays on the sidelines.