Chimaev Demands UFC 328 Rematch After Split-Decision Loss to Strickland

13 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · May 13

Khamzat Chimaev said a rematch with Sean Strickland is the only fight he will accept after losing his middleweight title and unbeaten record by split decision at UFC 328.
Chimaev said he ended their heated feud because Strickland apologized after the fight and asked for forgiveness, prompting the former champion to shake his hand and place the belt on him.
That reconciliation may not speed a second booking: the bad blood helped drive UFC 328, while Strickland is also linked to Nassourdine Imavov or a trilogy fight with Dricus du Plessis.
The push for another bout comes after Chimaev briefly appeared headed to 205 pounds, but his team now says he is focused solely on getting another crack at Strickland.

Why is Chimaev gambling his health on a rematch instead of moving to a new weight class as planned?

After his first loss and a forgettable performance, is Chimaev's aura of invincibility permanently shattered?

Was the bitter rivalry between Chimaev and Strickland just an elaborate performance for pay-per-view sales?