Sean Strickland highlights ideal opponent for return to pave way to fight Khamzat Chimaev

Sean Strickland was sidelined after getting involved in a brawl while coaching one of his teammates.

But with news that his six-month ban could be reduced to 4.5 months if he completed an anger management course, Strickland said he was motivated by the possibility of facing Khamzat Chimaev, who now holds the middleweight belt.

At 34 years old, the fighter recently said to MMA Junkie that a bout with Anthony Hernandez would be a logical progression to rejoin the title contention.

Hernandez, known as ‘Fluffy’, is on an eight-fight win streak and had been set for a title eliminator this month before pulling out with an injury.

Strickland has already shut down talk of an Adesanya rematch, instead seeing a win over Hernandez as a more direct route back towards the top and a chance to catch Chimaev’s attention.

“I don’t want Izzy. I’m not going to fight Izzy. I think it’s an easier fight for me.

“So that’s kind of where I’m at. I want to fight somebody like Fluffy. Fluffy puts me in title contention. Especially with him, because all he does, he’s like the American Chimaev… Go beat your cans and then let me know when you’re ready.”

Sean Strickland backs himself as the man to beat Khamzat Chimaev

Strickland is not convinced that any of the middleweights currently lined up to challenge Chimaev can take the belt off him.

“What annoys me about Chimaev is there’s nobody that could beat him. I’ve trained with all the guys he’s going to fight,” he stated speaking with MMA Junkie.

The former champion, who has also spent time training with ‘Borz’, believes his familiarity with the titleholder gives him a unique edge over other contenders.

“Once he realizes he can’t f—— maul you and you don’t quit, he quits and it turns into a boxing match. I just don’t know if there’s anybody at that division other than me that knows what it’s like to grapple those f——.”