Sean Strickland doesn’t deserve UFC title fight against Khamzat Chimaev, says Belal Muhammad

Sean Strickland isn’t deserving of his spot on the UFC 328 card if you ask Belal Muhammad.

Strickland is set to challenge Khamzat Chimaev for the UFC Middleweight Championship on May 9. The title opportunity was given to Strickland following a second-round TKO finish over Anthony Hernandez in the UFC Houston main event back in February.

While Nassourdine Imavov had been widely viewed as the rightful No. 1 contender, many agreed that Chimaev vs. Strickland would be the more marketable fight, and the UFC brass ultimately felt the same way.

Muhammad uploaded a video on his YouTube channel sharing his belief that Strickland’s gift of gab is what got him another title fight (h/t MMAJunkie).

“Sucks for Imavov,” Muhammad said. “You’ve got to feel for him. I thought he earned the title shot. I thought that he was going to get the title shot, but I think the trash talk, and the stupidity, and the era we live in now, where Strickland talks his way into a title shot. You know it’s going to get people to want to talk, people to want to view, especially with Chimaev. You know they’re going to go back and forth.”

Muhammad has his own beef with Strickland as the two have gone back and forth on social media several times. The former UFC Welterweight Champion believes Strickland is in for a one-sided beatdown.

“The thing I’m excited for is to see Chimaev smash him and walk through him,” Muhammad said. “I think that’s what it’s going to be. I think he’s going to be able to take him down, control him, and I’m hoping cut him open a little bit, let him bleed a little bit, and then break him mentally, and tap him out.”

Strickland is a former UFC middleweight titleholder, but he lost the gold in his first defense against Dricus du Plessis and he couldn’t get it back in their rematch. Meanwhile, Chimaev turned in a grappling clinic against du Plessis to win the UFC Middleweight Championship back in Aug. 2025.

Do you agree with Belal Muhammad on Sean Strickland being undeserving of the UFC 328 title fight against Khamzat Chimaev? Let us know in the comments below.