Khamzat Chimaev has shed light on the unexpected display of respect between him and Sean Strickland following their intense UFC 328 bout. Despite a heated build-up filled with personal animosity and even an incident where Chimaev kicked Strickland at a press conference, the two fighters showed remarkable sportsmanship after their closely contested split-decision fight.
Following the grueling five-round middleweight title fight, Chimaev was seen touching gloves with Strickland multiple times during the contest and later placed the championship belt around Strickland’s waist. This abrupt shift from animosity to respect surprised many observers.
Chimaev revealed the reason behind his changed demeanor was Strickland’s post-fight apology. He explained that Strickland approached him and his corner, expressing remorse for his pre-fight remarks. Chimaev, stating he is “not an oppressor,” chose to forgive Strickland upon receiving an apology.
“And regarding that guy, he said a lot of unnecessary things. People were asking why I shook his hand and why I put the belt on him afterward,” Chimaev stated on Instagram stories. “We don’t have the habit of talking or fighting after a loss. If we fight, we fight inside the cage, and we fight as best as we can. What Allah has decided is no longer in our control. That guy lowered his head and asked for forgiveness. If a person asks for forgiveness, I can forgive him. I’m not an oppressor, so I would refuse to forgive.”
Strickland himself publicly apologized during his post-fight interview, admitting he “went too f*cking hard” with his trash talk and expressed respect for Chimaev and Chechen fighters.