Daniel Cormier: Khamzat Chimaev earned title shot at UFC 308, Sean Strickland needs to be fearful

After UFC 308, Daniel Cormier believes Khamzat Chimaev probably has leapfrogged Sean Strickland as No. 1 middleweight contender.

Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) ran through former champion Robert Whittaker (27-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC) for a first-round submission in Saturday’s co-main occasion in Abu Dhabi. Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) was expected to be next in line for a title-fight rematch with champion Dricus Du Plessis, however Cormier isn’t so positive after Chimaev made fast work of Whittaker.

“Khamzat Chimaev earned himself a title shot, or at the very least he ought to have,” Cormier mentioned on his YouTube channel. “He submitted Robert Whittaker within the first spherical – first spherical! Went throughout the octagon, double-legged him, took him down, choked him, and broke his jaw – broke his jaw! With a squeeze from a rear-naked choke. It was nuts to see him try this to a man that was the technology earlier than him, was one of many guys. Robert Whittaker for a very long time has been one of many guys. When he wasn’t the champion, he was ranked No. 1, or No. 2. Chimaev is ranked No. 12 proper now.

“He went and beat him within the first spherical. And for those who’re Sean Strickland, that outcome worries you. Why? As a result of Mick Maynard is sitting subsequent to me and jumps up and runs to Dana, they usually begin speaking with Hunter (Campbell). Dana instantly runs over to observe Chimaev to speak to him. That’s scary to a man that’s thought-about the No. 1 contender as a result of that tells you issues are taking place. Khamzat Chimaev, to me, solidified himself because the No. 1 contender at 185 kilos. His wrestling, his high management, his mentality, his method, it’s not like many issues now we have seen.”

Since dropping his middleweight title in a cut up resolution loss to Du Plessis at UFC 297 in January, Strickland rebounded with a unanimous resolution win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June. He beforehand acknowledged that he refuses to take one other battle until it’s for the title and is still confident that he’s next for Du Plessis.

“Perceive one factor…. I’m subsequent in line….. Its been mentioned, its been written… January/February me and @dricusduplessis are scrapping Return to Chechnya and wait a couple of months….. wait.. sorry UAE… you’re not allowed in Chechnya…However hey crypto scams when you wait.”

“Khamzat Chimaev needs to be preventing for the belt subsequent,” Cormier added. “He actually ought to. I don’t know what the UFC goes to do, but when they are saying, ‘Hey, you’re subsequent,’ I don’t know that Sean has a lot by way of causes how he can complain to the group about how they’re fallacious.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 308.