In the fast-paced world of UFC, opportunities come and go like lightning strikes. One such opportunity which couldn’t happen involved Sean Strickland, the former UFC middleweight champion, and the Wolf Khamzat Chimaev.
Sean Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, revealed a surprising detail: Following Chimaev’s victory, the UFC reportedly reached out to Nicksick inquiring about Strickland’s availability for a fast-tracked fight against Chimaev.
Eric Nicksick reveals that the UFC had asked him when Sean Strickland could fight Khamzat Chimaev, after Chimaev had defeated Kamaru Usman at UFC 294
"I know when Khamzat beat Usman, they wrote me and were like 'hey what's the earliest you can have Sean ready to fight Khamzat'.… pic.twitter.com/v8HEOplP6r
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 9, 2024
This revelation raises several questions: Was the UFC ready to bypass the welterweight title picture and hand Chimaev a direct shot at the championship? And what derailed this potential blockbuster matchup?
The Offer: Sean Strickland vs. Khamzat Chimaev
After Khamzat Chimaev’s impressive victory over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 294, the UFC brass wasted no time. They reached out to Sean Strickland’s head coach, Eric Nicksick, with an intriguing proposal: “What’s the earliest you can have Sean ready to fight Khamzat?”
What could have been?
Imagine the hype of a Sean Strickland vs. Khamzat Chimaev fight. Strickland, the gritty champion with a penchant for violence, against Chimaev, the enigmatic force who seemed unstoppable. The clash of styles—technical precision versus raw power—would have been a treat for fight fans worldwide. And it was all set to be a title fight.
What Happened in Real?
When the negotiations were underway, Khamzat got unwell and became unavailable to take the title fight. After that, Dricus Du Plessis got a call and what happened next is History.
Strickland’s title reign couldn’t hold the Du Plessis sized challenge.
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