Tension is rising: “Ask that guy who was beating him up every day in the gym”

Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland. Photo via Jonathon Michaels and USA Today Sports

Before this past weekend’s UFC 297, then-champion Sean Strickland dismissed Khamzat Chimaev’s title credentials following his win over Kamaru Usman last October.

Chimaev was promised a shot at the title by UFC CEO Dana White, but Strickland claimed he isn’t yet worthy of an opportunity.

It’s safe to say that Khamzat doesn’t agree as he recalled their training sessions at Xtreme Couture back in 2022.

“Ask that guy (Strickland) who was beating him up every day in the gym,” Chimaev said in a recent interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.

“How many times I submit that guy? How many times I beat him up? He went to his coach, ‘Please, tell the guy man, go easy, go easy.’ And the guy said I went crazy with some guy who was 166 (pounds) or this shit.. He’s lying, man! He’s trying to say I am this, I am that. He’s trying to be some macho man. You are not a macho man!”

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Khamzat Chimaev: “I beat you up”

Chimaev claimed he can’t remember ever losing sparring, beating up everyone at ‘all these gyms’, including Strickland at Xtreme Couture.

“When I punched you hard, you went to your coach and said, ‘Please, tell this guy to go easy,'” Chimaev said. “No, fuck off man, what are you talking about? I beat you up. You were running from me. I’ve been in his home, his gym. Nobody never comes to my gym and tries to beat me up”

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