Chimaev offers Strickland $1M for rematch

Former UFC middleweight champion Hamzat Chimaev (UAE) has called for a rematch against current champion Sean Strickland (US), offering $1 million to the man who handed him his first professional loss.

According to MMA Fighting, Sherdog and other combat sports outlets, Chimaev recently took to social media with the bold proposal.

Chimaev told Strickland to name the place and he would pay $1 million — inside the UFC octagon or outside it, it did not matter. Chimaev expressed the amount using a lemon emoji in his post, which MMA Fighting and Sherdog interpreted as a $1 million offer.

Bad blood between the two dates to their meeting in May. Chimaev, who held the middleweight title at the time, faced Strickland in the UFC 328 main event at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on May 10 (Korean Standard Time).

Strickland won by split decision, 2-1, after five rounds of close fighting. The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47 and 47-48. The victory returned the UFC middleweight title to Strickland and gave Chimaev his first professional defeat. Chimaev had been unbeaten in 15 fights heading into the bout and now stands at 15-1.

The two had traded sharp words before the fight but appeared to bury the hatchet immediately afterward — Chimaev personally fastened the championship belt around Strickland's waist. The goodwill did not last, however, as both fighters resumed trading barbs through the media and on social media.

Whether Chimaev will get an immediate title shot remains uncertain. Nassourdine Imavov has emerged as the leading contender for Strickland's next defense, and Strickland himself has indicated a fight with Imavov is nearly finalized, with only the purse yet to be settled. UFC has yet to make an official announcement.

Imavov, as it happens, also made Strickland a cash offer — pledging $500,000 of his own money if Strickland beats him. With Strickland's fight fee already a topic of discussion, Imavov put up $500,000 first, and Chimaev then doubled it with his $1 million proposal.

Strickland has not publicly responded to Chimaev's $1 million offer.