Chimaev targets Strickland rematch and three other middleweights for UFC comeback

Khamzat Chimaev is eager to return to the octagon and has named four potential opponents — including the man who ended his unbeaten record — as he pushes for his next middleweight booking.

Chimaev lost the UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland in his first defence at UFC 328 in May, suffering the first defeat of his professional career. The Chechen-born Swede has since been vocal about wanting a rematch, and on Tuesday he made his intentions clear in a post on Twitter. “I’m ready,” Chimaev wrote. “Let me know when you are ready Sean, Dricus [du Plessis], Nassourdine [Imavov], Caio [Borralho].”

The message signals that while Chimaev’s preference is a rematch with Strickland, he is not willing to wait indefinitely for a title shot. All three alternatives are credible contenders in a crowded middleweight division.

Imavov has arguably done the most to force his way into the conversation, following a dominant decision win over Borralho at UFC Paris in September that strengthened his claim to a championship opportunity.

Du Plessis, who surrendered the belt to Chimaev in a lopsided decision at UFC 319 a year ago, has since rebuilt momentum with a one-sided victory over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma City in July.

Borralho, meanwhile, returned to winning ways with a clear-cut victory over Reinier de Ridder at UFC 326 in March, keeping himself relevant in the division’s upper tier.

With Strickland now holding the title and a deep pool of contenders jostling for position, the UFC’s matchmakers face a compelling set of options at 185 pounds — and Chimaev, it seems, is content to fight any of them.