Khamzat Chimaev says he ‘loves’ Sean Strickland, actually: ‘UFC pay good for him’

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 21: Khamzat Chimaev of the United Arab Emirates prepares to face Kamaru Usman of Nigeria in a middleweight fight during the UFC 294 event at Etihad Arena on October 21, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Khamzat Chimaev is not on the verge of raging out on Sean Strickland during UFC 328 fight week. On the contrary, Khamzat says he’s got a deep appreciation for what Sean has done to sell their fight.

The reigning UFC middleweight champion shared that surprising outlook during a quick media scrum on Tuesday.

“I love him,” Chimaev said of Strickland with a smile. “They pay good for him, so that’s the important thing. I never made that much money before. That’s good.”

Much has been made of Strickland’s comments that he’d wait in the hotel lobby for Chimaev and shoot anyone that approached him the wrong way. There’s been talk of cancelling faceoffs due to the possibility of violence. “Borz” shrugged off that talk.

“Let him come,” he said. “I think they took him to some other hotel. I don’t know. I tried to find the guy, and that’s not so much personal. The guy just talks too much … I don’t think it’s possible because they don’t let me see this guy. So, I don’t know where he is. I’ve been here for three days in the lobby, and the guy said he’s gonna shoot me. So let’s go. Do that. I will be happy to die.”