Sean Strickland has no chance against Khamzat Chimaev, Colby Covington predicts

Sean Strickland will be challenging Khamzat Chimaev for the middleweight gold at UFC 328, but Colby Covington doesn’t think he stands a chance.

Strickland earned an0ther 185-pound title fight after he scored a second-round TKO finish over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston. Chimaev, who hasn’t competed since he won the middleweight gold back in Aug. 2025, has had some social media beef with Strickland and the two will settle things on May 9 in Newark.

Covington was a guest on Submission Radio, and he had a bleak outlook on Strickland’s chances against Chimaev (via MMAJunkie).

“No, I’m not giving him a chance,” Covington said. “Hernandez and Khamzat are completely different levels of grapplers and the way they approach their strategies. So, I think Khamzat’s going to take him down and submit him. Schmo went and watched them spar back at Xtreme Couture a couple of years ago, and he pretty much said it wasn’t competitive.

“Khamzat was just taking him down and submitting him, so I expect that same damn plan. He’s not going to be stupid and strike with Sean and make it a kickboxing fight. He’s just going to make it straight grappling, and I think he’s going to put Strickland in some really bad positions and either submit him or just hold him down for 25 minutes.”

Strickland has ruffled the feathers of Chimaev, claiming that “Borz” always has an injury excuse that prevents him from being active inside the Octagon. Many within the MMA community feel it’s the first true high-level grudge match in the sport in quite some time.

Do you agree with Colby Covington’s assessment of Sean Strickland’s chances against Khamzat Chimaev? Do you think Strickland will be a tougher challenge than most are expecting? Join in on the conversation by sharing your opinion in the comments below.