Khamzat Chimaev Offers Sean Strickland $1 Million for a Rematch

Khamzat Chimaev clearly isn’t interested in waiting around.

After suffering the first loss of his professional career against Sean Strickland at UFC 328, Chimaev has now made an extraordinary proposal: $1 million for another fight with Strickland.

And he doesn’t appear to care whether the UFC is involved.

Khamzat Chimaev Wants Strickland Again

Chimaev took the rivalry straight to social media, offering Strickland $1 million and telling him to essentially name the place.

The message is significant because this isn’t simply another contender calling for a title shot. Chimaev is coming off the first defeat of his career and appears determined to settle the score personally.

The UFC 328 result was incredibly close on the scorecards. Sean Strickland defeated Khamzat Chimaev by split decision, 48-47, 48-47, 47-48, becoming a two-time UFC middleweight champion.

For Chimaev, that makes the rematch particularly compelling.

Sean Strickland Holds the Advantage

Strickland has something Chimaev desperately wants: the win.

Their first fight went five rounds, and Strickland managed to survive Chimaev’s pressure and wrestling threat long enough to edge the decision. The result completely changed the middleweight landscape.

Now, Sean Strickland has the leverage.

Chimaev can demand the rematch, offer seven figures and call him out publicly—but Strickland doesn’t have to accept.

That’s what makes this interesting from a matchmaking perspective.

Is Chimaev vs Strickland 2 Actually Happening?

Not yet.

Chimaev wants it. The fans would almost certainly watch it. But the UFC’s middleweight picture has other contenders waiting, and Strickland’s next title situation remains complicated.

That’s where the $1 million offer becomes more than just trash talk.

Chimaev is effectively saying: forget the rankings, forget the waiting game—let’s settle this.

Whether Strickland agrees is the real question.

The Bottom Line

Khamzat Chimaev vs Sean Strickland 2 has everything a UFC rematch needs: a razor-close first fight, a championship storyline, genuine history and a fighter desperate to erase the only loss on his record.

Now there’s $1 million on the table.

All that’s missing is Sean Strickland’s answer.